















Class ^ 


Book "XR . 2 ,1 

Copight N° (T' 


coi^RiGirr DEPOsm 


f ( 


» 


f 




✓ 


/ 


y 


\ 


1, 


NORA’S TWIN SISTER 


BOOKS BY NINA RHOADES 

MARION’S VACATION. Illustrated. Cloth. Net $1.25 
DOROTHY BROWN. Illustrated. Cloth. Net $1.50 
VICTORINE’S BOOK. Illustrated. Cloth. Net $1.25 
THE GIRL FROM ARIZONA. Illustrated. Net $1.25 
THE INDEPENDENCE OF NAN. Illustrated. Net $1.50 


FOR YOUNGER READERS 

“The Brick House Books” 

The sight of the brick house on the cover makes girl 
readers happy at once. — Indianapolis News> 

Illustrated. Large 12mo. Cloth. Net $1.25 each. 

ONLY DOLLIE 

THE LITTLE GIRL NEXT DOOR 
WINIFRED’S NEIGHBORS 
THE CHILDREN ON THE TOP FLOOR 
HOW BARBARA KEPT HER PROMISE 
LITTLE MISS ROSAMOND 
PRISCILLA OF THE DOLL SHOP 
BRAVE LITTLE PEGGY 
THE OTHER SYLVIA 
MAISIE’S MERRY CHRISTMAS 
LITTLE QUEEN ESTHER 
MAKING MARY LIZZIE HAPPY 
A REAL CINDERELLA 
NORA’S TWIN SISTER 


LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. 

BOSTON 


I 



I 



- 


<• 


I 

% 








t 


• 4 






4 > 


» 





( 






4 ll 

f ; 

m* j 




• 1 A 


4 


1 

» 


4 . 


V 


I 






4 


$ 


\A 


I 

± 


•» 


« 





•s 



t 


N» 







I 






1 



“But you’re like somebody I know; you’re just like me.” 

Page 49. 


NORA’S TWIN 
SISTER 


BY 

NINA RHOADES 

II 


ILLUSTRATED BT 

NANA FRENCH BICKFORD 



BOSTON 

LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. 



Published, August, 1919 



Copyright, 1919, 

By Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. 

All Rights Reserved 

Nora’s Twin Sister 




1Florwoo& il>re00 

BERWICK & SMITH CO. 
Norwood, Mass. 

U. S. A. 


©Ci.A5 29 845 




CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

1. 

Nora Entertains the Judsons 


. 

PAGE 

9 

II. 

A Real Adventure 



25 

III. 

Kathleen .... 



40 

IV. 

Nora Explains 



51 

V. 

Kathleen Takes the Helm 



64 

VI. 

Nora Plays a Part 



80 

VII. 

The Unexpected Happens . 



94 

VIII. 

Kathleen Receives a Shock 



107 

IX. 

Nora Goes to Sea 



124 

X. 

Nora Arrives in Bermuda . 



143 

XI. 

Nora Becomes Involved in Difficulty 

155 

XII. 

Reggie Posts a Letter 



169 

XIII. 

The Doctor's Orders . 



188 

XIV. 

Nora to the Rescue 



202 

XV. 

The Twins . * 



221 

XVI. 

Kathleen Has Her Way 



237 




t: 


1 « 


'i 








Jit 


'X' A' <\ 


1 ».«W 


U), 


f 










* 




■ih 


* » 


\‘ I 






«'< '• 




UP 


iy 


I’M! 




•rj. I 


A. 


1 i I 




ft •/ 


i i ' ' 


V- 


•c* 


„ 5 'r>rflS 

, 'r ■ ■ v> . ■ 

, • .4 


I I ' 


^ • 




4 k ' 


> k 


i f 


‘t . i 


r. 

•’'>■!•»•, I'f’* 

‘■■i ■• '/Sf '. ' 


-V ^ 


ITV’ ’••/ ■■;. /• •\-*** 


>r‘- 


k’ . . i 




■ 


• I 


m 






ly^n 


V 1 




^'* • iJ 


^ I 










•« 4 « 






J 


ra 


' > fe sK'sv 




) 


V 11 


r 


■ > « ' 


yt: 


:V 


¥ 



i;;h 




■-•/ 






‘■iTi 




t ' 


. ., ir? ‘ I .’ 

'vif-l 


i ^ 




i ’• 


^ iV' 4 > ‘ ’ *'•' i *' ( I'Sf ‘ #V 










‘-.V' 


:y’ 




• Ml ■ n »j 


., : ■ T>W 






i^) 




t >. 






r. 




. * r> "1 

/ !•* •! 


>r 




* <i 




A 'i 


'^l 


■J' 


A'" 




»)1 I*' 


4i: 


^ If 




» 


>• ,\ .»ii 


:iv 




1 


> •. 


f V 

1r. O.i! 


1? i,l XV:Jl^k^A\'k 


»/ 


r, 






) 


» V' < .s 


* i>: \ 

■r'Av^V 


v; 


f 




■A'. I 




» \ • 


> t 


!«/ 








/ > 






‘- V' \i 

ti' ' n. ♦ V 

/wVA'C' ! .* : 


rr 






*r ' 




C' ,i '* 
" '4i' ?■ , ' * 

jl i -r' V • V' 

L'T*. ‘' ' '» >• . ,‘ ■ , 


.• 1 


'4A^ 


TA' I*'* I '■•' 

7/h> r V-sIa^ 


I, 




/ :. 


4^ 




f 1 


•Vri: 






i\ 

4/^ rTt^ oui''iA?t.'l 


W 


|/|flBr^fiU. ""-' '■■<’ - f TSklM 

L ' ' • . 0^4 . ■ V. - ’J , ^ ’ . •':.■) 

i W / ^ ,)♦ * I' 


« < 


r.j' 


-y: 


< ' • k 'i I ‘I 


/ 






0 




. V’/ 


• t • 




i' 


•k 




44 




u 


V • ■ 

< y. W ' ' 

f '. - • (j 






?:n> 




y, 




. <♦ 


:a;' 






'i ^ . .♦» »» 


r» . ' I » I 

0 f 4 » 


J ✓. 




*• 1 


' '.">1 




'A *•'% L2 


y/A^f 

r^r .^1 


i.«'4 


>r4^' 


- . - 


j (i '] 

'i’w 




'»V', 


I 


Wtk' 


*' » 4 




./f 


^ #1 


I . <:'■• • •,* 


■f K 


■_J 4 '. t 


<!a ’^l 


Mtei' 


\0 




'V 


Ik "fcl 


Tv: 


^n ' f < 


•. t 




' ;» , 






■' ^ ■: • . ^ 14 ji,, < 

^i' , ■ ' ^ 1 - ' '. ■ 4 <jr / 







ILLUSTRATIONS 


But you’re like somebody I know ; you’re 
just like me ” (Page 49) 


Frontispiece 



Facing Page 


And she did enjoy herself, despite the strangeness of 

it all 84 


** Oh, Sarah, come quick ! The steamer’s going to 
start ! ” 


106 


You love your daddy very dearly, don’t you, Kath- 
leen ?” \\2 \y 

I wouldn’t mind buying them myself, but five cents 

is too cheap ” i74n/^ 

At the very same moment that Nora had flung herself 
upon the little lady in black, two other small 
arms were clinging round Mr. Crawford’s neck . 220 1/ 


7 


NORA’S TWIN SISTER 


CHAPTER I 

NORA ENTERTAINS THE JUDSONS 

** A ND Tommy began to run, and he ran and 
ran till he came to the top of the kitchen 
^ stairs, and then he tripped, and went 
bump, bump, all the way down to the bottom. 
And then he gave an awful scream, and sat up, 
and where do you think he found himself ? 
Right in his own bed, with his mother leaning 
over him, saying, ‘ Why, Tommy darling, what- 
ever is the matter? You must have had a bad 
dream.^ And Tommy put his hand up to his 
mouth, and there wasn’t any orange-tree growing 
out of it at all. It was all just a dream, but he 
had such a dreadful scare, he never, never swal- 
lowed another orange-pit as long as he lived.” 

Nora paused, being rather out of breath, and 
her audience gave a long sigh of relief. 

“ It’s very funny,” remarked May, reflectively. 
“ You’ve told us that story a good many times, 
9 


lO 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


and we know just how it^s going to end, but every 
time you come to the part where the doctor pulls 
out his long knife, and says, ‘ We shall have to 
cut Tommy open,^ I always have chills down my 
back.” 

Nora smiled with the pardonable pride of the 
accomplished story-teller. 

I get rather excited at that part myself,” she 
admitted, “ though of course it’s very silly, be- 
cause I made it all up. Put your arms under the 
bedclothes, Jimmy, or you’ll take cold and send 
the rash in.” 

“Well, suppose I do, it won’t make any differ- 
ence, and if the rash goes in perhaps I won t feel 
so uncomfortable,” argued Jimmy, who always 
objected to prompt obedience. 

“ You’d die,” stated his sister, calmly. “ Peo- 
ple always die when the rash goes in.” 

“ Shucks I ” retorted Jimmy, but he took the 
precaution to draw the bedclothes up over his 
arms once more, nevertheless. The prospect of 
dying was not an agreeable one. His sister May 
was ten, and he was only eight and a half, and it 
was natural to suppose that a person nearly two 
years his senior might know more on certain sub- 
jects, even if that person did happen to be a girl. 

“ It’s great to have you come and tell us stories 
when Papa and Mamma are out,” observed May, 
politely. “ Wasn’t it lucky you caught the mea- 


NORA ENTERTAINS THE JUDSONS II 

sles first I If you had been sick at the same time 
with us, Mamma says she doesn’t know what in 
the world she would have done. You do make 
up such good stories, Nora. I don’t see how you 
ever think of them all.” 

“ Mother says I get my imagination from my 
father,” said Nora. “ He was a great Irish actor, 
you know, and he wrote plays and poems, too, 
only no publisher would ever take them, because 
they were too good to suit the public.” 

“ I’m sure you could act if you tried,” said 
May. “ Why, when you’re telling a story, and 
change your voice to talk like the different people 
in it, I can almost see the things happening. 
Papa says he thinks it’s a shame your mamma 
won’t let you come out in vaudeville.” 

Nora sighed, and shook her curly head. 

“ I’ve coaxed and coaxed,” she said, regretfully, 

but it isn’t any use. Mother says I may be a 
writer when I grow up, but she won’t let me act.” 

‘‘Well, it’s too bad,” agreed May. “Papa and 
Mamma are doing real well at The Palace ; their 
pictures are going to be in next Sunday Herald, 
They’ve got a new sketch, and it’s taking wonder- 
fully. I wish Jimmy and I could go on, but 
Mamma says we haven’t either of us got a parti- 
cle of talent. I should think your mamma would 
like to have you make all the money you could.” 

“ Mother says money isn’t the only thing in the 


12 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


world/’ said Nora, soberly. “She wants me to 
have a good education before I do anything else. 
You see my father had a wonderful education. 
He went to Oxford University in England, and 
graduated first in his class. Mother had a good 
education, too. She speaks French, and she used 
to play the piano beautifully, but it’s so long since 
we’ve been able to afford to have one she’s afraid 
she’s forgotten most of her music. My grand- 
father was a lawyer, and when Mother was a 
little girl they were very well off, but when 
Grandpa died there wasn’t much money left, and 
Mother had to be companion to a cross old lady 
till she met Father and they got married. Father 
always thought he was going to be very rich, but 
he wasn’t strong, and the managers wouldn’t put 
on his plays, and then he was very ill, and died, 
when I was a baby, and Mother has had to work 
hard ever since.” 

Here the conversation was interrupted by a de- 
mand from the feverish Jimmy for a drink of 
water, and Nora departed for the kitchen sink, 
whence she returned with a glass of cold water, 
which she held tenderly to the little sufferer’s lips. 
Jimmy had come down with measles several days 
later than his sister, and was still in the uncom- 
fortable, feverish stage of the disease. 

“Tell us another story,” commanded Jimmy, 
when he had drunk his fill, and Nora had tucked 


JVOJ^A ENTERTAINS THE JUDSONS 1 3 

the bedclothes about him again, and turned his 
hot pillow. 

All right,” said Nora, cheerfully, setting the 
empty glass down on the floor, the little dark 
apartment-house bedroom being destitute of all 
furniture except one chair and the two small iron 
bedsteads. “ What story shall I tell ? ” 

“ About your twin sister,” said May, eagerly. 
“You love that story, don’t you, Jimmy?” 

“ I like ‘ The Talking Tree ’ better,” objected 
Jimmy. 

“ Oh, that’s just a fairy story. Please let Nora 
tell about her twin sister ; it’s so interesting.” 

Jimmy was beginning to feel rather sleepy or 
he might not have acquiesced so readily, but as it 
was, he made no further objection, and May added 
an impatient, “ Go on, Nora.” 

But to her surprise, good-natured Nora did not 
respond with her usual alacrity. Her dark little 
face had grown suddenly grave and troubled. 

“ I don’t believe I’d better tell that story any 
more,” she said, doubtfully. “ I should think 
you’d be tired of it, anyhow.” 

“ But we’re not a bit tired of it,” protested May. 
“ It’s the most interesting story you tell. Besides, 
you always add new parts to it. Oh, please do 
go on, Nora; I heard the clock strike five, and 
Papa and Mamma will be in before you finish if 
you don’t hurry.” 


14 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


But don’t you think it’s a rather silly story ? ” 
urged Nora. “Let me tell ‘The Talking Tree’ 
instead ; Jimmy likes that best.” 

“Jimmy doesn’t care; he’s going to sleep. 
Oh, please do hurry and begin, Nora.” 

Thus urged, Nora choked down her scruples, 
and began. 

“ Well, my twin sister lives in a beautiful big 
house, over on Fifth Avenue, opposite the park. 
It’s one of the grandest houses you ever saw. 
There are two men in livery, and sometimes one 
opens the front door, and sometimes the other. 
My twin sister has a big automobile of her very 
own, and every afternoon she goes for a ride. 
Some days her governess goes with her, and 
other days she takes her friends. Almost every 
Saturday she goes to the theatre. She has closets 
full of beautiful dresses, and when she was little 
she had the most wonderful toys you ever heard 
of. Her doll’s house had electric lights, and hot 
and cold water in it. She’s given all her toys 
away now, but she’s got books, shelves and 
shelves full of them, and the loveliest jewelry : 
pins, and rings, and bracelets. You ought to see 
her when she goes out ivalking with her father on 
Sunday afternoons. She’s so pretty you would 
just love to kiss her.” 

“ She looks just like you, doesn’t she ? ” re- 
marked May, innocently. 


NORA ENTERTAINS THE JUDSONS 1 $ 

Nora blushed. 

‘‘ I didn’t mean her face was so pretty,” she ex- 
plained, modestly ; “ it’s her clothes. She has a 
velvet suit, trimmed with chinchilla, and a muff to 
match, and the prettiest hat you ever saw. Then 
her curls hang loose over her shoulders, and — and 
— well, I can’t explain it exactly, but she really is 
lovely.” 

“ I think you might be quite lovely, too, if you 
were dressed like that,” said May, reflectively. 

But your twin sister’s face is just exactly like 
yours, even if her clothes aren’t ; at least you al- 
ways say it is.” 

Oh, yes,” said Nora ; “ if we were dressed 
alike I don’t believe any one could tell which was 
which.” 

“ Tell us about the party,” said May, settling 
herself more comfortably ; “ you’ve only told us 
that part once.” 

‘‘ Oh, the party was on her birthday, when she 
was twelve. Of course that was my birthday, too, 
but I didn’t have any party. It was the grandest 
party you ever heard of. The street was lined 
with carriages and automobiles, and there was an 
awning, and a carpet on the' front steps. There 
were hundreds of children at the party, and real 
musicians played for them to dance, and a man 
did wonderful tricks, and a lady sang and told 
beautiful fairy stories.” 


1 6 NORA'S TWIN SISTER 

“Was there ice-cream?” This in a sleepy 
voice from Jimmy. 

“ Of course there was, quarts and quarts, and 
there were cakes and candies, and all sorts of 
delicious things besides. Sherry served the re- 
freshments. There was a long account of the 
party in the Sunday Herald^ 

“ I wish I had some ice-cream now,” moaned 
Jimmy ; “ Fm awful hot and thirsty.” 

“ Maybe your mother will bring some when she 
comes in,” suggested Nora, hopefully. “My twin 
sister has so much ice-cream that she doesn’t care 
any more about it than we care about hash. She’s 
very generous, though. Once she went to a 
Home for crippled children, and brought them all 
candy, and when she went away, she ordered ice- 
cream and cake to be sent to them every Sunday. 
That was in the Herald, too. A great many things 
my twin sister does are in the newspapers. It’s 
because her father is so very rich that people are 
always interested in what his family do. His wife 
is dead, and he and my twin sister live in that big 
house all alone except for a lot of servants, and a 
housekeeper. My sister doesn’t go to school, but 
she has ever so many teachers, who come every 
day to give her lessons.” 

“ I should hate that,” declared May, with con- 
viction. “ I suppose she has to learn to speak 
French, and play the piano. It must be grand to 


NO/iA ENTERTAINS THE JUDSONS 1 7 


live in that big house, though, and ride in an 
auto every day. Go on and make up some mior^, 
Nora. You make it sound so real I keep for* 
getting it isn’t all true.” iji 

But before Nora could make up any more,’! 
the outer door of the apartment was heard", to 
open and close, and a cheery voice called — )IIoi 
“ Here I am, kids ; did you think I was never 
coming?” jbij[ 

It’s Mamma,” announced May, joyfully, and 
Jimmy opened his heavy eyes, to inquire — ut / 
“ Oh, Mamma, did you bring ice-cream ? ” ) nl 
“Ice-cream! Well, now, what ever made)yo!U 
think of that ? ” inquired Mrs. Judson, appearing 
in the doorway, her plump, good-humored face 
wreathed in smiles. <: iM 

“ I bet you did I ” cried Jimmy, his own /face 
brightening perceptibly at sight of his mother. 
“ Oh, say. Mamma, did you ? ” 

“To be sure I did,” said Mrs. Judson; “ th^t^s 
just what kept me so long. I’d have been home 
ten minutes sooner if I hadn’t stopped at the con- 
fectioner’s. Why, Jimmy, my poor little chicly, 
you’re as red as a lobster. No doubt about yOurs 
being a thorough case. I hope they’ve bothbeeh 
good while I was away, Nora?” 

“ They’ve been as good as gold,” declared Noret. 
“ I’ve been telling stories all the afternoon. I gave 
them their medicine at three, as you told me 


i8 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


“You’re a jewel,” declared Mrs. Judson. “I 
don’t believe there are many children of your age 
who could be trusted as you can. Now you must 
just stay and have some ice-cream ; there’s plenty 
for everybody.” 

Nora accepted the invitation with pleasure, and 
followed Mrs. Judson to the kitchen, in quest of 
saucers and spoons. In theatrical circles Mrs. 
Judson was known as Mrs. Leroy Newcomb, 
and her husband, Mr. Judson, appeared on the 
vaudeville programmes as Mr. Leroy Newcomb. 
In earlier life Mr. Judson had been greatly ad- 
mired for his graceful dancing, but flesh and ad- 
vancing years had seriously interfered with his 
career as a dancer, and at the present time he and 
Mrs. Judson eked out a rather scanty income as 
“ vaudeville artists.” 

“ Nora’s been telling us such an interesting 
story,” said May, as the party settled down to the 
enjoyment of ice-cream and lady-fingers. “ It’s 
about her twin sister, who’s awfully rich, and lives 
in a big house over on Fifth Avenue, opposite the 
park. Tell Mamma about it, Nora ; it’s lovely.” 

“ Yes, do, dear,” urged good-natured Mrs. 
Judson, but Nora blushed and shook her head. 

“ I’ve got to go,” she said ; “ Mother told me 
to come home as soon as you got back.” 

“ Finish your cream first,” advised Mrs. Judson, 
“and don’t hurry. You’ve been a great help, and 


J\rOJ^A ENTERTAINS THE JUDSONS 19 

I wish you’d tell your mother how much obliged 
to her I am for letting you stay with the children. 
That Jimmy of mine is such a limb, he’d never 
keep inside the bedclothes for five minutes if there 
wasn’t somebody to watch him. It isn’t so bad 
in the evening, when they’re both asleep, and the 
janitor’s wife looks in once in a while to see that 
everything’s all right, but if it wasn’t for you I’m 
sure I don’t know how I should ever manage in 
the afternoons now they’re both in bed at once. 
I wish your mother’d let me pay you something, 
but when I suggested it to her the other day, she 
seemed quite upset at the very idea.” 

‘‘ Of course Mother wouldn’t let you pay me,” 
said Nora, blushing. “ I love taking care of 
people, and I’d rather tell stories than do almost 
anything else. I hope May will be up by Mon- 
day, though, for Mother thinks I will have to go 
back to school. The measles quarantine is only 
two weeks, and I’ve been out since Wednesday.” 

“ Well, I suppose you’ll have to go, then,” said 
Mrs. Judson, with a sigh, “ though how I’m going 
to get along without you I don’t see. Your 
mother’s very strong on education, isn’t she?” 

“Yes,” said Nora, regretfully; “sh^ wants me 
to be able to teach when I leave school.” 

“ I know she does, and it seems a pity, too. 
Why, with your talent for acting, you might be 
bringing in a good salary by the time you’re six- 


20 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


tfeen. But, there, what^s the use of talking? 
Your mother has her views, and she’s a lady, if 
there ever was one. Must you really go ? You’ve 
left* ’most a whole spoonful of cream on your plate. 
That’s right, scrape around the edges. I was 
hrdught up never to waste anything, and it’s a 
good rule, too.” 

rnNora laughed, as she put down her empty 
saucer, and having bidden the Judsons a hasty 
farewell, she hurried away up to her own quarters, 
itt] tithe big studio at the top of the apartment 
house. There was no elevator, but Nora was ac- 
customed to stairs, and ran lightly up the three 
ToUg flights, and opened the door of the studio, 
^hich served her mother and herself as parlor, 
Mtchen and bedroom all in one. 
nBefore one of the windows, a delicate little 
woman, who looked almost too young and pretty 
td‘be the mother of such a big girl, was busy with 
a typewriter, her nimble fingers flying over the 
keys with a speed which would have surprised 
auy one less accustomed to it than Nora. At the 
little girl’s entrance, Mrs. O’Neil looked up from 
her work with a smile. 

9n*!» ^Most finished. Mummy ? ” 

In a few minutes, chicken. Don’t bother. 
The boy from the office is to call at six, and it’s 
lofig past five already. I’m in a great hurry. 
-zf^All right,” promised Nora, won’t say a 


NORA ENTERTAINS THE JUDSONS %V 

word, and Fll be as quiet as a mouse. Fll jtist 
read the newspaper till you’re through.” And 
suiting the action to the words, she picked up the 
morning paper and settled herself in the rocker 
by the opposite window, to catch the last rays* of 
afternoon sunshine. 

For the next fifteen minutes the only sounds iiu 
the room were the steady click of the typewriletv 
and an occasional rustle from Nora’s paper; 
Then Mrs. O’Neil finished her last sheet, and be- 
gan gathering her manuscript together. Nbra 
was on her feet in a moment. 

“The paper says fair and warmer for.td-^ 
morrow,” she announced. “ Don’t you hope it’ll 
come true? Just think, it’s three whole weeks* 
since we’ve been to the park. First it rained dnd 
Sunday, and then came the horrid old measlep; 
Let me help you tie them up, Mother. Is ^the 
story as good as the one last week ? ” loid 

“I[|am afraid not,” said Mrs. O’Neil. “Thrs* 
tiresome cold has given me such a headache thalJ 
my brain is duller than usual. I sat here IfoF 
nearly an hour before I could think of an opertityg* 
sentence for my article.” M 

“Poor Mummy! Well, it’s finished now,Jae 
any rate, and I’m sure it’s all right. I know peo- 
ple must just love reading your things. I wisH I 
were grown up, so I could write for the news^I 
papers, too.” 


22 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


“You will probably write better than I do/’ 
said her mother ; “ you inherit your father’s 
talent.” 

Nora blushed with pleasure. 

“ I’ve been telling the Judsons stories all the 
afternoon,” she said. “ I made up two new ones, 
and then I told ‘ Tommy and The Orange Pits,’ 
and just before Mrs. Judson came in, they wanted 
me to tell about ‘ Her.’ ” 

Mrs. O’Neil looked a little troubled. 

“ You really must be careful, Nora,” she said, 
gravely. “ Suppose the Judsons, or some one 
else, were to find out ? ” 

“ Oh, they won’t ; they couldn’t possibly ! ” de- 
clared Nora. “ I never talk about her to anybody 
but Jimmy and May, and they think I make it all 
up, like the other stories. I’m sorry I ever began 
it, but it was one day when May was in bed with 
bronchitis, and I’d told every story I knew, and 
couldn’t think of a new one. I didn’t mean ever 
to mention her again, but May was so interested, 
and she’s been asking me to make up about my 
twin sister ever since.” 

Mrs. O’Neil sighed, and a look of pain flitted 
across her sweet face. 

“ Well, I suppose it can’t be helped,” she said. 
“ I am afraid the fault was mine in the beginning. 
I ought not to have told you the story till you 
were old enough to keep it to yourself.” 


JVORA ENTERTAINS THE JUDSONS 23 

“Oh, Mother !“ cried Nora, the tears starting 
to her eyes. 

“ There, there, dearie, don’t worry. There isn’t 
anything to cry about, and as long as the Judsons 
think it is only one of your make-ups, no harm 
can be done. I only reproach myself for not 
keeping the secret better, but it was so cruelly 
hard never to be able to mention my Kathleen’s 

name ” The sentence ended in a quickly 

suppressed sob. 

“ Mummy darling. I’m so sorry I ” and Nora’s 
arms were round her mother’s neck. “ I’ll never 
say another word about her to any one, not even 
to the Judsons, only please, please don’t be sorry 
you told me. Why, it’s been the most interesting 
thing that ever happened. Just think of those 
wonderful Sunday afternoons in the park, and 
really seeing her sometimes at the windows, or 
going out with her father ! Why, it’s been al- 
most like living in a story.” 

Mrs. O’Neil kissed the eager, quivering little 
face, and smiled through her tears. 

“ Then I am glad I did tell you, darling,” she 
said, “ and I am sure I can trust my little girl not 
to get her mother into trouble. Now come and 
help me do up my article ; the boy from the of- 
fice will be here in five minutes.” 

“All right,” said Nora, drying her tears, “and 
then you’re going to lie down and rest your poor 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 

^fiid while I get tea. You won^t have to go out 
again to-night, will you ? ” 

^'ffsVes, dear, I am afraid I must. I had a tele- 
pht^iie message from the office this afternoon, and 
want me to report on a big dinner of Colo- 
Mll Dames at the Waldorf.” 

X^^lbra^s face fell, but she said nothing. Long 
^ip^rience had taught her that arguing with this 
pj^ky, resolute little mother of hers was never of 
any use. But there was a troubled look in her 
bte\^n eyes, as she helped tie up the bundle of 
ffi^i^script, and later, when the boy from the 
Af^^paper office had come and gone, and Mrs. 
0'Neil had thrown herself wearily on the couch, 
few minutes’ well earned rest, she covered 
mother’s feet carefully with a shawl, before 
Starting her preparations for the simple supper. 
•io*Mf we only had a little bit of Kathleen’s money,” 
sbfe feaid to herself, regretfully, as she lighted the 
gas stove, and put the kettle on to boil. “ I’m 
she’d love to help Mother, if she only knew, 
but of course I can never, never tell.” 

0f{^ 

jon ' 
bac 
-lo 9 


looq 


CHAPTER II 


A REAL ADVENTURE 

N ora had been in bed and asleep for 
more than two hours, when she was 
aroused by the sound of her mother’s 
latch-key in the door. She was very sleepy, and 
only opened her eyes to inquire drowsily : 

** Was it a very grand dinner. Mummy ? ” 

“Yes, dear, but the speeches were terribly long, 
and my head ached. I am thankful I don’t have 
to send in my report before Monday, for I am 
tired out. I am going straight to bed now, and 
if my cold isn’t better I shall stay in bed in the 
morning.” 

“ That’s right. I’ll get breakfast. Is it a clear 
night? ” 

“Yes, the stars are shining, and there is a full 
moon. Now go to sleep again ; it’s very late.” 

When Nora awoke the next time it was broad 
daylight, and the church clock on the corner was 
striking seven. It was Sunday morning, and 
there was no hurry, so she turned over, and tried 
to go to sleep again. She was just falling into a 

25 


26 


NORA 'S TWIN SISTER 


doze, when she was startled by a sharp fit of 
coughing from the couch where her mother slept, 
and in a moment she was sitting up in bed, in- 
quiring anxiously — 

“ Are you awake. Mummy — is your cold 
better ? ” 

“ Tm afraid it isn’t much better, dear,” Mrs. 
O’Neil answered in a rather husky voice. **I’ve 
been coughing a good deal in the night.” 

“And I never heard a sound,” said Nora, re- 
proachfully. “ Why didn’t you call me to get 
you a drink of water or something? ” 

“I didn’t need anything, chicken, but I don’t 
think I will get up till later. A day’s rest will do 
me more good than anything else. Do you think 
you can manage breakfast by yourself ? ” 

“ Of course I can,” declared Nora, springing 
out of bed. “You know I love getting meals. 
I’ll light the stove, and your coffee will be ready 
in ten minutes. You know you always feel better 
when you’ve had your coffee.” 

Mrs. O’Neil closed her eyes, with a sigh of 
content. Her head ached, and the thought of a 
whole day of rest was very pleasant. It was 
seldom that she allowed herself such an indul- 
gence. She did not open her eyes again until 
Nora was at her bedside, breakfast tray in hand. 

“ Doesn’t the coffee smell good ? ” remarked 
Nora in a tone of satisfaction, as her mother sat 


A REAL ADVENTURE 


27 


up in bed, and took the cup of steaming coffee 
from the tray. “ I didn’t burn the toast this time 
either, and I opened a jar of marmalade ; I thought 
you wouldn’t mind, as it was Sunday morning.” 

“ Everything is delicious, darling,” said Mrs. 
O’Neil, heartily; “you are a famous little house- 
wife. You cook much better already than I did 
after I was married, and had gone to housekeep- 
ing. How your father used to laugh at my 
attempts to get dinner on the maid’s night out ! ” 

“But you learned afterwards,” said Nora, “and 
so it was all right, wasn’t it? And when Father 
was ill he used to tell you what a splendid nurse 
you were, and how very comfortable you made 
him.” 

Mrs. O’Neil smiled sadly. 

“ I am afraid your father was prejudiced,” she 
said, “ but I am glad I had learned some things 
before our troubles came, and the maid had to be 
dispensed with.” 

“It’s a beautiful day,” remarked Nora, irrel- 
evantly, glancing toward the window. “ I think 
it must be quite warm, too. We shall have a 
lovely afternoon for the park.” 

“ Perhaps so, dear ; I begin to feel better al- 
ready ; I may be quite well by the middle of the 
day.” 

But, despite this hopeful prediction, Mrs. O’Neil 
continued to cough a good deal, and before the 


28 


norAs twin sister 


morning was over had come to the wise conclusion 
that to go out would be a foolish tempting of 
Providence. 

“ Fm very sorry, darling,^* she told Nora, when 
the little girl came bounding in from Sunday- 
school, with the joyful news that “ it felt just like 
spring.’^ “ It almost breaks my heart to lose a 
possible chance of getting a glimpse of my Kath- 
leen, but if I should add to this cold I might be 
laid up for a week, and what would happen to my 
work then ? I have to report on two large wed- 
dings to-morrow, and a suffrage luncheon on 
Wednesday.” 

Nora^s face fell, but she tried hard to keep the 
disappointment out of her voice. 

‘‘ Never mind. Mummy,” she said, cheerfully ; 
** we’ll have a nice, cozy afternoon in the house, 
ril tell you a new story Fve made up. I thought 
of it coming home from Sunday-school, and it’s 
very exciting.” 

But though she tried hard to be cheerful, it was 
not easy, and many were the wistful glances she 
cast out of the window, while preparing the Sun- 
day dinner. After dinner was over, and the dishes 
were washed and put away, she sat down by her 
mother’s couch, and for a short time everything 
else was forgotten in the interest of “ telling her 
latest story.” Mrs. O’Neil listened attentively, 
now and then interrupting to ask a question, or 


A REAL ADVENTURE 


29 


make a suggestion. A writer of some ability her- 
self, she realized that her little daughter's talent 
for “ making-up ” was something more than a 
mere childish amusement. She knew that Nora 
possessed a gift, which, if properly trained, was 
sure to bring her in a rich harvest in the years to 
come. It was a great comfort to the hard- worked 
little newspaper reporter to feel that whatever 
might happen to herself, Nora would not be un- 
provided with the means for earning a livelihood, 
for she had no near relatives, and there was no one 
in whose care she could leave her little girl. 

“ It’s a very good story, chicken,” she said, when 
Nora had brought the adventures of her heroine 
to a satisfactory conclusion. “ If you keep on 
improving, I am almost sure you will write books 
when you are older.” 

Nora looked a little doubtful. 

I should love it,” she said, “ but Father wrote 
beautiful books, and he never made much money. 
I think I should like to make money.” 

“ Money isn’t everything, dear ; there are other 
things much more worth while than getting rich. 
Your father never made a fortune, but he was very 
happy in his work. I would rather have written 
some of those poems and plays of his than be the 
richest woman in New York.” 

** I know,” said Nora. ” Of course it’s beauti- 
ful to be a genius like Father, and I’m very proud 


30 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


of him, but still, it must be very pleasant to be 
rich.” 

Nora checked herself abruptly, startled by the 
sudden look of pain on her mother’s face. 

“ Don’t talk like that, dear,” said Mrs. O’Neil, 
almost sharply ; “ it hurts me.” 

All right. Mummy, I won’t, but I didn’t know 
you minded. Oh, Mummy darling, don’t cry I ” 
And impulsive Nora flung her arms round her 
mother’s neck and hugged her. 

“ There, there, darling, it’s all right,” whispered 
Mrs. O’Neil, holding her little daughter tight, and 
hastily brushing away her tears. “I’m just a 
foolish little Mummy, who ought to be ashamed 
of herself. But, oh, my darling, think, it was only 
a chance. You might have been having all the 
money and all the luxuries instead of Kathleen.” 

“ As if I wanted them ! ” cried Nora, indig- 
nantly. “ Why, I wouldn’t change places with 
Kathleen for the whole world. It’s lovely to live 
in a beautiful house, and have lots of clothes, and 
an automobile, but Kathleen hasn’t got you, and 
when I think of that sometimes it makes me feel 
so terribl3r sorry for her I just wish I could do 
something about it.” 

Mrs. O’Neil laughed softly. 

“You dear little comforter,” she said, kissing 
her. “ Do you really love me as much as all 
that?” 


A REAL ADVENTURE 


31 


“ I love you better than anything in the whole 
world/’ said Nora, simply, and after that they 
were both very happy for a long time. 

But as the afternoon wore on Nora grew rest- 
less and although she tried hard to interest herself 
in the book she had brought home from the Sun- 
day-school library, it was easy to see that her 
thoughts were not on the story. There was no 
performance at the vaudeville theatre on Sunday, 
so her services were not required by the Judson 
family, and after a call at the door of their apart- 
ment, to inquire how Jimmy and May were getting 
on, she came back to the studio feeling that all her 
efforts at being cheerful were rather a hopeless 
failure. All the week she had been anticipating 
this Sunday afternoon, and now it had come, and 
there was nothing to do but sit at home and read 
a Sunday-school book. 

Mrs. O’Neil was up and dressed by that time, 
but her cough still troubled her a good deal. 

“ It is really a beautiful afternoon,” she re- 
marked, glancing out of the window ; I wonder 
if I dare venture out.” 

Nora’s face brightened. 

Perhaps if you put on your warmest 

things ” she suggested doubtfully, but at that 

moment her mother was seized by another fit of 
coughing, and her rising hopes sank again. 

‘‘I am afraid to run the risk,” said Mrs. O’Neil, 


32 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


with a sigh. “ We might have to sit in the park 
for a long time.” 

Yes, I know we might,” said Nora, resignedly, 
“ but it’s such a lovely day she’d be almost sure 
to come out. I’m sure nobody would stay indoors 
who didn’t have to.” 

There was a short pause, during which Nora 
stood flattening her nose against the window 
pane, and gazing away over the chimney-tops in 
the direction of the park. Then Mrs. O’Neil 
spoke. 

“ Nora,” she said, slowly, would you like to 
go by yourself ? ” 

With a bound Nora was at her mother’s side ; 
her eyes fairly dancing with joy and excitement. 

** Oh, Mummy darling, may I ? I’ll be so care- 
ful crossing the avenues, and I know the way just 
as well as you do. Then if I see her I can tell 
you all about it, and you’ll know she’s well, 
and Oh, Mummy, please I ” 

Mrs. O’Neil laughed in spite of her anxiety. 

“Well, I believe I will let you go,” she said. 
“You have never been so far by yourself before, 
but you are a sensible child, and I think I can 
trust you. It would be a great comfort to know 
you had seen her, if only for a moment. I get so 
worried sometimes thinking that she might be ill, 
and I not know. So hurry and put on your 
things, dear ; I’m afraid it’s getting late.” 


A REAL ADVENTURE 


33 


Nora needed no second bidding. Already she 
had whisked off her house-dress, and was diving 
into the closet, in quest of more festal attire. 

“ I’m going to put on my new dress,” she an- 
nounced ; “ the one you gave me for my birthday. 
It’s just like one she had on the rainy Sunday we 
saw her going out in the automobile. Oh, 
Mummy, I do believe if somebody saw me who 
didn’t know there were two of us, they might 
think I was Kathleen. Wouldn’t that be exciting, 
but how in the world would I ever explain ? ” 

“ I sincerely trust nothing of the kind will ever 
happen,” said Mrs. O’Neil, gravely. “ You are 
so much alike that I almost wish I had never 
copied that dress and hat.” 

“ Oh, don’t be sorry. Mummy, please. It’s so 
nice to think I have some things just a little bit 
like hers. Now I’m ready ; wasn’t I quick? If I 
see her I’ll throw a kiss — oh, not so she can see 
it, of course — and I’ll say very softly, ‘ It’s from 
Mother ; she sends you her love, and she’s so 
sorry she can’t come to-day, on account of her 
cold.’ ” 

Ten minutes later Nora had crossed Columbus 
Avenue and Central Park West, and was walking 
rapidly across the beautiful park to the East Side. 
The day was warm for March, and the park was 
crowded with pleasure-seekers, but Nora glanced 
neither to left nor right, so eager was she to 


34 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


reach her goal, a certain bench near one of the 
Fifth Avenue entrances. For more than a year 
now that particular spot had been to her one of 
the most fascinatingly interesting places in the 
world. To most people there might not be any- 
thing remarkably interesting about the big brown- 
stone house on Upper Fifth Avenue, although its 
front windows did command a fine view of the 
opposite park, but to Nora that house meant all 
the excitement and romance of her life. For a 
long time Nora had wondered why it was that 
Sunday after Sunday — weather permitting — she 
and her mother went to the park, and she was 
told to play about and amuse herself, while 
Mummy always sat on that one particular bench, 
and gazed and gazed over at the big house op- 
posite. They never went to any other part of the 
park except in summer, when all the big Fifth 
Avenue houses were shut up. Then one day, 
when she was nearly eleven. Mummy had told 
her — and from that day Nora’s twin sister had 
been the romance of her life. 

Nora’s heart began to beat fast as she ap- 
proached the familiar spot. There were no faces 
at the windows of the big house ; no automobile 
stood before the door. That was not surprising, 
however, for it was still early, and, with a sigh of 
satisfaction, Nora took her seat on the usual 
bench, prepared to await developments. But, 


A REAL ADVENTURE 


35 


contrary to her expectations, nothing happened, 
and as the minutes passed, and the afternoon sun 
began to sink toward the west, her hopes sank, 
too, and her heart grew heavier and heavier. 

“ O dear ! what shall I do ? ” she said to her- 
self, with a sigh. ‘‘ She must have gone out be- 
fore I got here, or else perhaps she’s ill. Mummy 
will be so worried if I have to go home and say I 
haven’t seen her. If I could only just make sure 
she’s all right.” 

Another half hour slipped by, and, with a last 
desperate glance at the row of empty windows 
opposite, Nora rose to her feet. She was moving 
slowly away, when she was hailed by a friendly 
policeman. 

** Hello, kiddie I All alone to-day ? ” 

“ Yes,” said Nora ; “ Mother has a cold, and 
she let me come by myself. I suppose you don’t 
happen to know if the people who live in that big 
house over there have gone away ? ” 

Nora’s tone was eager, and the man regarded 
her with some curiosity. 

The Crawfords, I suppose you mean,” he said. 
“ That house belongs to Duncan Crawford, the 
great financier. Why, I believe he’s gone to Ber- 
muda.” 

‘‘I know he has, but she hasn’t — I mean 
Kathleen, his little girl. When she’s at home 
she almost always comes to one of the win- 


36 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


dows on the third floor, but I haven’t seen her to- 
day.” 

The policeman laughed good-naturedly. 

“ You seem to be interested in the Crawford 
kid,” he said. “ Making a study of millionaires, 
eh?” 

Nora blushed. 

‘‘ Good-afternoon,” she said rather hurriedly ; 
“ I’m afraid it’s getting late.” 

In another moment she was walking quickly 
away. The policeman looked after her curiously. 

“ It’s queer how that young one and her mother 
turn up just here almost every Sunday,” he re- 
flected. “ I wonder what they’re up to, and why 
she wanted to know about the Crawfords.” 

But the policeman had other things to think 
about, and in a very few moments the memory of 
the pretty child, with big dark eyes, and long 
golden curls, had passed from his mind. His beat 
was taking him rapidly away from the neighbor- 
hood of the Crawfords’ home, so he failed to 
notice a little scene, which, if he had noticed, 
would probably have entirely changed the events 
of this story. 

With feelings somewhat ruffled by the police- 
man’s remark about her interest in millionaires, 
Nora walked on for several minutes, without turn- 
ing her head. She was sorry she had asked that 
question about the Crawfords. Was not her 


A REAL ADVENTURE 37 

mother constantly warning her against showing 
too great an interest in Kathleen ? 

“ Miss Kathleen, Miss Kathleen I stop for good- 
ness sake I Where in the world are you off to 
now, all by yourself ? ” 

At the sound of the familiar name, Nora paused 
instinctively, and turned her head. A stout, 
elderly woman was hurrying rapidly towards her, 
her whole manner expressive of astonishment and 
disapproval. 

‘‘Oh, Miss Kathleen,^* she panted, “youVe 
gone and done it again, after promising so faith- 
ful you never would. You come right straight 
home with me just as fast as you can.'' And 
Nora felt her arm seized in a firm grasp. 

For the first moment sheer astonishment had 
deprived the child of the power of speech, but as 
the full realization of what this meant began to 
dawn upon her, she made a feeble effort to free 
herself. At this evident desire to escape, the 
clutch on her arm tightened perceptibly. 

“Now, Miss Kathleen, don't you try to get 
away, because you know perfectly well it isn't any 
use. You promised your papa you'd be good 
while he was away, and mind Sarah, and not get 
into any mischief. Sarah' 11 have a fit if she finds 
out about this, and so will Mrs. Anderson." 

“But I'm not " began Nora, desperately. 

But the woman did not seem to hear. She was 


38 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


walking very fast, and almost dragging the un- 
willing child along with her. 

‘‘Now, Miss Kathleen, don't hang back like 
that,” she urged ; “ it ain’t one bit of use. What 
you want to do it for is more than I can make out, 
with all the things you’ve got to amuse yourself 
within the house. It really is very naughty, you 
know, but I don’t want to see you punished, so if 
you’re good, and come right along with me, I’ll 
take you in the basement way, and nobody’ll see 
you but Lizzie, and I won’t let her tell. Mrs. 
Anderson and Sarah are both out.” 

“ But — but you’re making a mistake,” faltered 
Nora, whose heart was by this time beating so 
fast that she could scarcely breathe. “I’m not 

Kathleen ; I’m Nora O’Neil ; I ” 

She paused abruptly, having suddenly realized 
that her words were quite wasted on her compan- 
ion, whose countenance did not even change, and 
who continued to martial her charge along, in the 
direction of the park entrance. 

“ Why, she must be deaf,” gasped Nora. “ Oh, 
how ever shall I make her understand ? ” 

Then all at once, her heart gave a great bound. 
This was an adventure ; the first real adventure of 
her life. She suddenly ceased her efforts to free 
herself. 

“ That’s right,” remarked her captor, in a tone 
of evident relief. “ Lizzie won’t say a word, if I 


A REAL ADVENTURE 


39 


forbid her, and not another living soul need know 
how naughty you was, but it was lucky I saw you. 
I was taking the short cut across the park, home 
from my daughter’s, and when I saw you walking 
along by yourself, as bold as brass, why, I declare 
you could have knocked me down with a feather. 
Now you just look up and down the avenue be- 
fore we cross ; I’m scared to death of them autos, 
and I’m so deaf I can’t hear their old horns till 
they’re on top of me.” 

With these words, the woman, still holding her 
charge firmly by the arm, plunged across the 
crowded avenue, and in another moment was 
ringing Mr. Crawford’s basement door-bell. 


CHAPTER III 


KATHLEEN 

“ ~jr REALLY think^ Miss Kathleen, that you 
I are, without exception, the most discon- 
A tented child I have ever seen. The idea of 
a big girl of twelve years old, complaining and 
making a fuss, just because she’s got to spend a 
couple of hours by herself.” 

Kathleen Crawford colored angrily. 

“ I’m not discontented, Sarah,” she protested, 
“ and you haven’t any business to say I am either. 
I don’t believe you’d like it yourself if you had to 
spend a whole beautiful afternoon in the house 
with nothing to do, and nobody to talk to.” 

Sarah sniffed scornfully. She was a tall, angular 
woman, and Kathleen sometimes thought her face 
was the plainest face she had ever seen. 

‘‘Nothing to do!” she echoed. “That’s a 
pretty way for a child like you to talk, isn’t it ? 
How about all those new books your papa ordered 
for you just before he went away ? Then there’s 
your beautiful new victrola to amuse you, if noth- 
ing else will, to say nothing of your lessons for to- 
40 


KATHLEEN 


41 


morrow. I don’t believe you’ve looked at one of 
them since Miss Hastings and Madame left on 
Friday.” 

“ I studied my lessons yesterday, and I can’t 
read all day long. I’m tired of all the Victor 
records. I meant to get some new ones yester- 
day, but I forgot. So you see I really haven’t 
anything to do. I think you might take me out 
for a walk.” 

“ Well, I’m not going to, even if you do think 
so,” maintained Sarah. “ It’s little enough time 
I have to myself, goodness knows, and I don’t in- 
tend to give up my Sunday afternoon just because 
you happen to think you’d like a walk, when 
half the time it’s as much as one’s life is worth to 
coax you out for the exercise your papa wants 
you to have. Why, the first week you had that 
talking-machine, you couldn’t tear yourself away 
from it. I declare, it makes me sick the way you 
tire of everything you have. It’s a sin, that’s 
what it is. When I think of other children I’ve 
known ; dear little Miss Joy, for instance. Left 
alone all day she was, while her sister was out 
being companion to an old lady, and she blind, 
too, and yet never a word of complaint out of 
her ” 

“ Oh, do stop talking about that Joy St. Clair,” 
interrupted Kathleen ; I’m so tired of hearing 
about her.” And as a means of expressing her 


42 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


weariness of the subject, she flung herself back 
among the sofa cushions, and closed her eyes. 

Sarah looked very much offended. 

“ Oh, very well,” she said, coldly, and, without 
another word, she walked out of the room. 

For several minutes Kathleen lay still with 
closed eyes. She had made Sarah angry, she 
knew, for of all people in the world, this Joy St. 
Clair held the highest place in the maid’s estima- 
tion. According to Sarah, she was a sort of com- 
bination of Elsie Dinsmore and Little Lord 
Fauntleroy. Kathleen had never seen her, but 
Sarah had lived for several years with relatives of 
hers, and ever since her advent in the Crawford 
household, she had talked so much about the 
little blind girl’s perfection, and had made so 
many unfavorable comparisons between Joy St. 
Clair and her present charge, that perhaps there 
was some excuse for Kathleen’s dislike of the sub- 
ject. 

“ I know I should hate her,” remarked Kath- 
leen to herself, suddenly sitting up on the sofa, 
and tossing back her long curls. “ I hate Sarah, 
too ; I’m going to ask Daddy to send her away 
as soon as he comes home. Augustine was much 
nicer, even if she did make me speak French. I 
thought Sarah was going to be nice when she 
first came, and it was interesting hearing about 
Joy St. Clair and Gladys Wentworth, but I didn’t 


KATHLEEN 


43 


suppose she would go on talking about them for- 
ever and ever. I suppose I might as well read ; 
there isn^t anything else to do.” 

‘‘ Miss Kathleen.” 

Kathleen looked up from the book, the pages 
of which she had been idly turning for at least 
five minutes. Sarah, dressed to go out, was 
standing in the doorway. Sarah was still deeply 
offended, but she knew her duty. 

I’m going now, Miss Kathleen. If you want 
anything you know you can ring for Selma.” 

“ Why can’t Selma take me out ? ” inquired 
Kathleen, springing to her feet. 

“ Because she has to answer the door-bell. It’s 
Brown’s afternoon out.” 

“ Oh, how I do hate afternoons out ! ” declared 
Kathleen, but Sarah, who had no desire for further 
argument, was already half-way down-stairs. 

Kathleen sat listening to the maid’s retreating 
footsteps until the door at the head of the base- 
ment stairs closed. Then she rose, tossed aside 
her book, and went over to the window. 

“ It really is a beautiful afternoon,” she reflected, 
gazing down at the crowded avenue, and over to 
the park. “I wish I hadn’t promised Daddy 
never to go out by myself again. I’d love to give 
Sarah a good fright, and Mrs. Anderson too. It 
was mean of them both to go out at the same 
time, and leave me alone. They wouldn’t have 


44 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


dared to do it if Daddy had been at home. I 
don’t suppose that old Joy St. Clair cared whether 
she stayed in the house all day or not. It can’t 
make much difference to blind people where they 
are. Oh, I wish Daddy hadn’t gone away to 
Bermuda ; I do miss him so.” Suddenly Kath- 
leen found it necessary to turn away from the 
window, and take out her handkerchief. 

She was very lonely ; perhaps more lonely than 
Sarah realized. Ever since she could remember 
she had been a small person of a great deal of 
consequence. Her father worshipped her, and 
every member of the household had been taught 
to do her bidding. All her former maids had been 
her abject slaves, and it was only since the arrival 
of the stern Sarah that she had ever been treated 
to anything like discipline. She was not a par- 
ticularly ill-natured or unreasonable child and she 
was rather a favorite with most of the servants, 
but she was so accustomed to being an object of 
importance to people that Sarah’s present indif- 
ference was quite a new, and not at all pleasant 
experience. 

“ I shall tell Daddy about her the minute he 
comes home,” she told herself, as she wiped her 
eyes, and went back to the sofa and her book. 
** She’s only a servant, and the servants have got 
to do what I want.” 

But even this reflection failed to brighten the 


KATHLEEN 


45 


present moment, and after another vain attempt 
to interest herself in her story-book, Kathleen 
jumped up, with an impatient sigh. She was 
tired of reading; tired of music; tired of every- 
thing I She glanced about the pretty, luxurious 
room, and wished that she were anywhere else in 
the world at that particular moment. 

“ ril write a letter to Daddy,’^ she decided. “ I 
can tell him about Sarah, and how horrid every- 
thing is, and perhaps he’ll hurry home.” 

She crossed the room to the writing-desk, 
selected a pen and a sheet of paper, and began to 
write very fast. Her cheeks were flushed, and 
her eyes flashed indignantly. It was at that very 
moment that Nora took her seat on the park 
bench, and fixed her anxious gaze on the empty 
windows of the Crawford mansion. 

Dear Daddy : 

I miss you dreadfully, and I do wish you 
would hurry home. This is Sunday afternoon, 
and everything is perfectly horrid. I am all alone 
by myself, and I think everybody is very selfish 
and unkind. Mrs. Anderson has gone to Brooklyn 
to a funeral, and won’t be home till tea-time. I 
didn’t see why she had to go, but she said the 
man who died was an old friend of her father’s, 
and it wouldn’t be respectful not to attend his 
funeral. 

“ I didn’t mind Mrs. Anderson’s going to the 
funeral much, because she is so stupid, and never 


46 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


any good to talk to, but Sarah has gone out too. 
I told her she ought not to leave me alone, but 
she said it was her Sunday out, and I was old 
enough to take care of myself. It’s a perfectly 
beautiful afternoon, and of course I want to go for 
a walk. 1 only had time for a little one after 
church, because Sarah was in such a hurry to get 
home to lunch. But I promised you I wouldn’t 
ever go out alone again, and of course there isn’t 
any one to take me. You said I mustn’t take the 
car out on Sunday afternoons, so I can’t even have a 
ride. I am up here in the schoolroom, with nobody 
to talk to, and not a single thing to do. I know 
if you were at home you wouldn’t have let Sarah 
and Mrs. Anderson both go out, and, oh, Daddy 
darling, I do miss you more and more every day. 
I cried for several nights after you went away, and 
I keep wishing for you all the time. If you could 
just telephone to me sometimes, as you used to 
do when you were in Florida, it wouldn’t be half 
so bad, but Miss Hastings says people can’t even 
telegraph to Bermuda. I wish you wouldn’t go 
to such very far-away places. 

“ I went to the theatre yesterday afternoon, and 
the play was very nice. I invited Muriel to go 
with me, and Sarah took us. Sarah was very 
solemn all the time, and hardly laughed at all, 
even at the funniest parts. She says she doesn’t 
enjoy plays, which I think is very silly, for Miss 
Hastings and Madame both like them, and, being 
teachers, they ought to know more about such 
things than Sarah. Muriel came to luncheon, and 
after the play we went to Maillard’s, and had 
chocolate and cakes. Muriel has asked me to her 


KATHLEEN 


47 


house next Saturday, and her father is going to 
take us to the Hippodrome. 

“ I knew my lessons pretty well all the week, 
and Miss Hastings and Madame didn’t scold very 
much. Madame is reading me a lovely French 
book called ‘ Sans Famille.^ It is very interest- 
ing, but of course I would like it better if it were 
in English. 

“Mrs. Anderson and I went to the cripples^ 
home on Wednesday, and I took the children 
some candy. I think cripples and blind people 
have very good times, and I don’t think I should 
mind being one very much. There isn’t much 
fun in being rich, and having lots of nice things, 
when your daddy goes away to Bermuda, and 
you have to stay all by yourself on a beautiful Sun- 
day afternoon. I am so tired of having people 
tell me I ought to be grateful, and how much I 
have to make me happy. I think it would be 
rather fun to be poor, just for a change. 

“ Aunt Kitty came yesterday, but wouldn’t stay 
to luncheon, because she said Uncle Stephen was 
coming up-town early. She says they may go to 
Bermuda the week after next. Oh, how I do wish 
I could go with them I Couldn’t I really. Daddy 
dear ? It would make me so very, very happy. 

“ I am sorry if this letter sounds cross and dis- 
agreeable. I don’t want to be horrid, but I am 
very lonely, and I do miss you so, my own 
daddy. 

“ With bushels of love, and a whole wagon full 
of kisses, I am your own little girl, who loves you 
better than anybody in the world. 

“ Kathleen Crawford.” 


48 


NORA*S TWIN SISTER 


Kathleen laid down her pen, folded her letter, 
and put it in an envelope. She had just finished 
writing the address : ‘‘ Mr. Duncan Crawford, 
Princess Hotel, Bermuda,” when her attention was 
attracted by a slight sound, and she turned her 
head rather curiously in the direction of the door. 
The next moment she had sprung to her feet, with 
a cry of astonishment, for there in the doorway 
stood a little girl with big brown eyes, and 
long golden curls, so exactly like herself, as she 
saw herself every day in the mirror, that she 
felt sure she must be seeing something in a 
dream. 

‘‘ Who — who are you ? ” faltered Kathleen, her 
eyes round with amazement. 

The stranger did not answer, but clasped her 
hands together with a little cry of distress. She 
had grown suddenly very pale, and there was a 
look of something very like terror in her eyes. 
Kathleen repeated her question. 

“ Who are you ? What do you want ? ” 

“ I — I don^t want anything,” stammered the 
stranger. I — I didn’t mean to come in, but the 
woman made me. She watched me all the way 
up-stairs.” 

“ But who are you ? ” repeated Kathleen for the 
third time. “ I never saw you before.” 

The strange girl shook her head. 

** I mustn’t tell you,” she said. “ I must go 


KATHLEEN 49 

right Straight away again, just as soon as Tm 
sure that woman isn’t watching me.” 

“But — but you’re like somebody I know; 
you’re just like me. Even your voice is like 
mine. Tell me who you are. Tell me this min- 
ute.” And Kathleen stamped her foot impa- 
tiently. She was recovering from her first amaze- 
ment, and now curiosity — wild, excited curiosity 
— was fast taking possession of her. 

The stranger began to cry. 

“ Don’t ask me, oh, please don’t,” she sobbed. 
“ You’re not to know anything about us ; Mother 
told me so. Oh, why did I ever come ? It was 
dreadfully wrong, I know it was. It may get 
Mother into trouble.” 

Kathleen was touched. She had a kind heart, 
after all, and she could never bear to see people cry. 

“ No, it won’t get your mother into any trouble,” 
she promised, laying a soothing hand on the 
visitor’s heaving shoulder. “ I won’t let anybody 
do anything to you or your mother either, but 
you’ve got to tell me who you are ; you’ve just 
got to. If you don’t tell I’ll call somebody, and 
make a fuss, and then perhaps you will get your 
mother into trouble, so you see you’d better tell 
right away. Nobody will know about your be- 
ing here unless I want them to, for all the serv- 
ants are down-stairs, and there isn’t a soul but us 
on this floor.” 


50 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


The visitor raised her face, down which the 
tears were still streaming. 

“ If you^l promise never to tell any one — 

promise faithfully ” 

“ I promise,” said Kathleen, impatiently. 

“ Then I’ll tell you, but I suppose you’ll be very 
much surprised, especially if you have never 
heard of me before, rm your twin sister,^* 


CHAPTER IV 


NORA EXPLAINS 

I T isnT true ! I don^t believe it ! ” 

Kathleen was staring at this girl so like 
herself, with wild, dilated eyes. 

“ It is true ; it is true,” maintained Nora. “ Of 
course you donT believe it ; I don’t see how you 
possibly could believe it just at first. I was al- 
most as much surprised when Mother told me.” 

Kathleen had grown very white, and was begin- 
ning to tremble. 

” I — I guess I’d better sit down,” she said, 
faintly ; “I feel rather queer.” 

Nora put a protecting arm about her, and drew 
her to the sofa. 

“ You’ll feel all right in a minute,” she said, re- 
assuringly. “May I sit here, too? I’ve been 
wanting to know you for such a long time, but I 
never thought I really should.” 

“ Tell me, tell me all about it, quick,” com- 
manded Kathleen, and she clutched Nora’s hand, 
and held it tight, as though fearful that this 
mysterious visitor might vanish as suddenly as 
she had appeared. 

Nora hesitated. 

51 


52 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


“ I don^t believe I ought to tell,’* she said, ** but 
I guess ril have to. I know if I were in your 
place 1 couldn’t wait a minute. But you see, I 
don’t know how much you’ve heard.” 

Kathleen gave a violent start, and a look of 
comprehension came into her face. 

“ I know some things,” she said. I know 
Daddy isn’t my real — oh, I hate even to think 
about it, but he isn’t my very own father. He 
told me once a long time ago, because he 
said he didn’t want me to find out in some other 
way, but he loves me just every bit as much as if 

I were Oh, 1 don’t want to talk about it. I 

won’t even think about it if I can help it.” 

“ But if you don’t think about it, how can I tell 
you?” said practical Nora. 

Kathleen made an impatient movement. 

‘‘Tell it quick, then,” she said, “and I’ll try to 
forget. Daddy never said anything about a twin 
sister.” 

“ Perhaps he didn’t want you to know,” sug- 
gested Nora. “ Did he ever tell you about 
Mother?” 

Kathleen shook her head. 

“ Of course I knew I must have had a mother,” 
she said, “ but I thought she was dead, like 
Mamma. Mamma died when I was six, and I 
can’t remember her very well. Isn’t my other 
mother dead ? ” 


NORA EXPLAINS 


53 


“No, she isn’t,” said Nora, softly. “She’s the 
dearest, loveliest person in the whole world, and 
she loves you — oh, how she does love you ! ” 

“Loves me?” repeated Kathleen, in a low, 
startled voice. “ What makes her love me ? She 
doesn’t know me.” 

“ But you’re her own little girl, just the same as 
I am,” explained Nora. “ It nearly broke her 
heart to give you up.” 

“ Do you mean when she gave me to Daddy 
and Mamma?” 

“Yes. You see, when we were babies Father 
and Mother were very poor, and Father was ill. 
He was ill for a long time before he died, and 
Mother had to take care of him as well as of us. 
It was terribly hard, and sometimes there wasn’t 
enough to eat, so when a friend of Mother’s came 
and told her that she knew some very rich people 
who wanted to adopt a little girl baby. Mother 
felt she ought to let one of us go. It nearly killed 
her, though, and if it hadn’t been for Father’s be- 
ing so ill, and needing medicines and nourishing 
food, she never could have done it. We were so 
exactly alike that nobody but Mother could ever 
tell us apart ; even Father used to make mistakes. 
Mother wouldn’t decide which baby to give, be- 
cause she loved us both so much, so Father had 
to do it, and it just happened to be you.” 

Nora paused, and drew a long, deep breath. 


54 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


“ Tm glad he didn’t happen to choose me/' she 
said, simply. 

“Why?” inquired Kathleen, in the same low, 
startled voice. 

“Because then I shouldn’t have stayed with 
Mother.” 

“ Do you love her so very much ? ” Kathleen’s 
lip was quivering, and there were tears in her 
eyes. 

“ Of course I do,” said Nora ; “ I love her bet- 
ter than anybody in the world. That’s why I’d 
rather be with her, even though we’re poor, and I 
can’t have any of the beautiful things you have. 
Mother is a newspaper reporter, and we live in a 
studio at the top of a big apartment house over 
on the West Side.” 

“ It’s very wonderful,” said Kathleen, slowly ; 
“it sounds just like something out of a story- 
book. I’m sure I shouldn’t like to be poor, but 
you say you’re glad you’re not me.” 

“ Only because I’ve got Mother. I should love 
to be you for lots of reasons, but not if I had to 
live away from Mother.” 

“ I don’t remember Mamma very well,” said 
Kathleen, reflectively, “ but she was very pretty, 
and Daddy loved her dearly. I suppose you feel 
the same way about your mother that I feel about 
Daddy. I wouldn’t leave him if he were the 
poorest person in the world, but he leaves me 


JVOI^A EXPLAINS 55 

sometimes. He^s gone away to Bermuda now, 
and I miss him dreadfully.” 

“There’s one comfort in being poor,” said 
Nora ; “ Mother never goes away and leaves me. 
She hasn’t got money enough, and there wouldn’t 
be any one for me to stay with except the Jud- 
sons.” 

“ Who are the Judsons ? ” 

“ Some friends of ours who live on the second 
floor. I stay with the children sometimes when 
Mrs. Judson is at the vaudeville theatre. By the 
way, have you had the measles ? ” 

“ Yes, I had them last winter,” said Kathleen ; 
“ why do you want to know ? ” 

“Because Jimmy and May Judson have them 
now, and I’m just out of quarantine myself. I 
haven’t been to school for nearly three weeks.” 

Kathleen settled back more comfortably among 
the sofa cushions. 

“Tell me about school, and the Judsons, and — 
and about your mother,” she said. “ It’s all very 
interesting.” , 

And Nora, quite forgetful of the lapse of time, 
and of the fact that her mother must already be 
expecting her return, told of home and school, 
and mother, and her twin sister drank in every 
word, with a strange, new light in her eyes — a 
strange, new feeling stirring at her heart. She 
told of the Sunday afternoons in the park ; of the 


56 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


patient hours spent in watching for a glimpse of 
the wonderful twin sister, and ended with an ac- 
count of her adventure with the maid who had 
mistaken her for Kathleen. 

“ It must have been on account of my hat,*' 
she said. “ You see, it’s just like one you wear 
sometimes. Mother trimmed it, and I got her to 
copy yours. I tried to make that old woman un- 
derstand I wasn’t you, but she didn’t seem to 
hear a word I said. She brought me in the base- 
ment way, and told me to run right up-stairs, and 
she wouldn’t tell any one about my being out by 
myself. I know I ought not to have come in ; I 
ought to have made her understand somehow, or 
told the girl who opened the basement door, but, 
oh, it was so wonderful, and so exciting ; I just 
couldn’t help myself.” 

“ I’m glad you came,” said Kathleen ; “it’s the 
most interesting thing that ever happened to me. 
That woman must have been Ellen, the cook. 
She’s very deaf, and people have to shout to make 
her hear anything. She’s lived here a long time, 
and she’s very good-natured. I did go out by 
myself once, and there was an awful row. I just 
went over to Aunt Kitty’s ; it isn’t far, and I knew 
the way perfectly, but nobody knew where I had 
gone, and Mrs. Anderson and Sarah were fright- 
ened. I only went because Sarah had been cross, 
and I was so tired of having her always tagging 


NOI^A EXPLAINS 


S7 


after me everywhere. It wasn’t much fun, after 
all, for Aunt Kitty was out, and I had to come 
home again. Of course they scolded, and told 
Daddy, and he made me promise never to go out 
alone again. I suppose you can go wherever you 
like.” 

“ I go to school alone,” said Nora, ” and to 
some of the stores in the neighborhood, to get 
things for Mother, but I never came over to this 
side of the park alone before. Mother only let me 
come to-day because of her cold. She was afraid 
to go out herself, and she was so anxious to know 
you were all right.” 

“ Was she ? ” said Kathleen. “ I’m glad. I 
didn’t know anybody cared very much about me 
except Daddy. I think I’ll go home with you. I 
want to see her.” 

Nora clasped her hands in dismay. 

“ Oh, you couldn’t, you couldn’t possibly I ” 
she cried. ” Mother would love it better than 
anything in the world, but it would never do. 
You see, when Mother gave you to the Crawfords, 
she had to sign a paper, promising never to try 
to see you without their consent. If Mr. Craw- 
ford found out he might be very angry, and it 
might get Mother into terrible trouble.” 

“ My daddy wouldn’t get anybody into trouble,” 
declared Kathleen. He’s much too kind. I’m 
sure he wouldn’t mind my goi^ to see my own 


58 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


mother. I shall tell him about it the minute he 
comes home.^^ 

“ But you promised ; you promised I ” pleaded 
Nora, actually wringing her hands in her distress. 

Oh, what shall I do — what shall I do ? I ought 
never to have told you, but you did promise.” 

“ Yes, I know I did,” said Kathleen, ‘‘ and I 
don’t break promises, either, so you needn’t be so 
worried. Just tell me where you live, though, so 
I can think about it. Have you really got to go 
so soon ? I wish you could stay longer ; it’s only 
a little after five.” 

But Nora could not be persuaded to prolong 
her visit. 

“ I must hurry just as fast as I can,” she said, 
firmly. ‘‘ I’m afraid Mother will be frightened. 
She might even come out to look for me, and that 
would be so bad for her cold. Good-bye, Kath- 
leen. Would you — would you let me give you a 
kiss ? I’ve often thought how I should love to 
kiss you.” 

Kathleen’s answer was to fling her arms round 
her sister’s neck, and for a moment the two chil- 
dren clung to each other in silence. Then Kath- 
leen whispered in a rather choked voice — 

“ It was wonderful to have you come, and I 
won’t ever forget you. Tell her I love her, and if 
I can ever manage it without anybody's finding 
out I’m coming to see her,” 


NORA EXPLAINS 


59 


Nora’s face was suddenly illuminated by the 
light of a great joy. 

** Oh, do you think you ever could ? ” she 
gasped. ** Mother might not think it was right to 
let you, but I won’t say anything to her about it, 
and then she can’t object, and if you really did 
come I know she’d be too happy to think of any- 
thing else, ril give you our address, and you 
can write it down, so you won’t forget.’*’ 

“ I won’t forget,” said Kathleen, confidently, 
and having given the street and number, and an- 
other good-bye kiss to Kathleen, Nora tore her- 
self away from the embrace of her twin, and ran 
swiftly down-stairs. There was no one in sight, 
and no one heard the opening and closing of the 
front door. At that very moment, Ellen, the 
cook, was recounting to a couple of friends — who 
had dropped in to tea — how she had found little 
Miss Kathleen all by herself in the park, “ as bold 
as you please,” and how she had pounced upon 
her, and “ brought her home as meek as a lamb.” 

” But I promised I wouldn’t tell on her,” she 
added, with an indulgent smile, ” for she’s a nice 
little thing, if she is spoiled, and Mrs. Anderson 
and Sarah do keep her very close since Mr. Craw- 
ford’s been away.” 

When Mrs. Anderson, the elderly housekeeper, 
reached home at six o’clock, she found Kathleen 
curled up in an arm-chair by the schoolroom fire, 


6o 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


apparently doing nothing in particular, and to her 
inquiries as to how the child had spent the after- 
noon, she received such short and unsatisfactory 
responses that she retired to her room somewhat 
offended, remarking to herself that “ Kathleen 
really was a very cold, unresponsive child.’^ But 
after tea, when she and Kathleen had gone into 
the big music room, and the housekeeper had 
started the organ, which ran by electricity, Kath- 
leen suddenly drew close to her on the sofa, and 
asked a rather unusual question. 

“Mrs. Anderson, did you ever have a mother?” 

“Did I ever have a mother?” repeated the 
housekeeper. “ What an absurd question. Of 
course I had a mother ; every one has.” 

“ I mean do you remember her ? ” said Kath- 
leen, flushing. “ You see my mamma died when 
I was so little that I can^t remember her very well. 
I was wondering about yours.” 

“ My mother lived till I was past forty,” said 
MrSo Anderson, “ but we mustn’t talk now ; we 
want to listen to the music.” 

“ I don’t care about the music,” said Kathleen, 
impatiently ; “ I want to talk. Was your mother 
very fond of you ? ” 

“ Certainly she was- My mother was a very 
fine woman, but unfortunately, she had a para- 
lytic stroke when she was seventy, and was quite 
helpless for the last ten years of her life. Now 


NORA EXPLAINS 


6l 


do keep quiet and listen to this beautiful selec- 
tion. You are the most unreasonable child. 
Not a word could I get out of you all tea-time, 
and now just because I want to rest, and listen 
to the music, you must begin to ask foolish ques- 
tions.'' 

Kathleen said nothing aloud, but to herself she 
remarked emphatically — 

** I don’t believe she'd understand what I mean 
anyway, so there isn't any use in talking to her.” 

But later, when Selma, the Swedish chamber- 
maid, was helping her to undress, in the absence 
of Sarah, she suddenly broke silence to inquire — 
‘‘ Have you got a mother, Selma ? ” 

Selma paused, with the hair-brush poised for 
action, and the tears started to her kind eyes. 

”Ah, no. Miss Katleen,” she answered in her 
slow, broken English ; ** my dear moder did die 
last year, and it went near to break my heart.” 

‘‘Did it?” said Kathleen, and there was so 
much sympathy in her tone that Selma, who was 
fond of talking, and who had not found many 
congenial spirits in the Crawford household, was 
emboldened to continue. 

“Yes, Miss Katleen, it was very sad. I love 
my dear moder so much, and I always tink some 
day I go back to Sweden to see her. I send her 
money all de time, but she write she want to see 
me so much.” 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


•62 

“ I suppose mothers always want to see their 
children,” said Kathleen, reflectively. “And if a 
mother had a little girl she had given away to 
some one else, and could never see her any more, 
it would make her very unhappy, wouldn’t it?” 

“Oh, Miss Katleen, what funny tings you say. 
Moders do not give away dere little girls.” 

“ Sometimes they do,” said Kathleen, “ when 
they are very poor, and their husbands are ill. 
I heard of one mother who did, and she kept on 
loving her little girl just the same, although she 
could never speak to her, because she had signed 
a horrid paper once.” 

“ Ah, but dat is very terrible,” said Selma, 
sympathetically. “Such a ting would sure have 
killed my moder. When my little sister die, my 
moder cry and cry all de time ; she want her back 
so bad. Now, Miss Katleen, de hair is done ; 
shall I take off de shoes ? ” 

It was more than an hour later when Sarah 
reached home. She occupied the small hall-room 
next to Kathleen, and as she turned on the light, 
and took off her hat and jacket, she was startled 
by a sound of low, suppressed sobbing. Going 
to Kathleen’s door, she listened for a moment; 
then softly turned the handle. The room was in 
complete darkness, but there was a slight rustle 
in the bed. 

“Are you awake, Miss Kathleen?” Sarah's 


NO/^A EXPLAINS 63 

voice was kinder than it had been in the after- 
noon. 

There was no answer ; only the regular breath- 
ing of some one who was apparently fast asleep. 

“ I must have been mistaken,” said Sarah to 
herself, as she closed the door, “ but I was sure I 
heard her crying. What she could have to cry 
for, though, is more than I can imagine, for if there 
ever was a spoiled, pampered child, she is one. 
When I think of dear patient little Miss Joy 1 ” 
And Sarah’s reflection ended in a regretful sigh. 


CHAPTER V 


KATHLEEN TAKES THE HELM 

I T was a lovely April afternoon, and school 
was out for the day. Down the steps of the 
big school building was pouring a stream of 
little girls — little girls of all ages and all sizes 
and, almost without exception, every tongue was 
loosened, and was making the best use of its 
powers. 

‘‘Whereas Nora O’Neil? I want to speak to 
Nora O’Neil,” stated a tall girl of thirteen, pausing 
at the foot of the steps, and casting an anxious 
glance about among the loudly chattering throng. 

“ I saw her a minute ago,” said another girl, 
also pausing. “ She must have stopped to speak 
to some one. Oh, here she comes. I say, Nora, 
I should think you’d be too stuck-up to live after 
having your composition read out loud before the 
whole class, and Miss Lane’s saying such grand 
things about it.” 

Nora blushed. 

” I’m not stuck-up at all,” she declared. I 
love writing. My father wrote plays and poems ; 
perhaps that’s why compositions seem so easy to 

64 


KATHLEEN TAKES THE HELM 65 


me, but I’m rather stupid in most of my lessons, 
so it doesn’t count for much.” 

“ Well, the composition was fine, anyhow,” said 
the tall girl, slipping an arm affectionately round 
Nora’s waist. ‘^If I’d written anything half so 
good I know I’d be as proud as Punch. Are you 
going right home ? ” 

“ I’ve got to wait for May Judson,” said Nora. 
” I promised her mother I’d always see her across 
the avenue. Here she is. Come along. May; 
I’m in a hurry.” 

I guess I’ll walk a little way with you,” said 
the big girl, as May, rather breathless from a race 
down four flights of stairs, joined the group, and 
slipped a hot little hand into Nora’s. “ I want to 
ask you to do something for me.” 

“ I will if I can,” said Nora. “ What is it? ” 

Lina Rosenbaum, whose father was the pro- 
prietor of the largest department store in the 
neighborhood, and who was consequently looked 
upon as a very important young person among 
her friends, blushed, and hesitated. 

“ Maybe you’ll think it a little queer,” she said in 
a rather low voice, as the three turned a corner into 
a quiet side street ; “ but you see. I’m awfully 
stupid about making up things. I never can think 
what to say, and I always get awful marks for my 
compositions. I’ve got one to write for next Friday, 
and I thought perhaps you wouldn’t mind help- 


66 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


ing me. Of course Vd give you something for 
doing it.” 

Nora flushed indignantly. 

“ I wouldn’t take anything,” she said, bluntly. 
“ rd be glad to help you with your composition, 
but I don’t believe it would be fair. We’re not 
supposed to have any help, you know.” 

“ Oh, bother 1 ” said Lina, impatiently. “ The 
teachers needn’t know anything about it, and it 
would be such a help to me. My father has 
promised me a present if I get good marks all 
next week, and I never get anything higher than 
fifty for my compositions. If you won’t help me 
I shall think it’s because you don’t want any one 
else to write as well as you do.” 

“ It is not ! ” cried Nora, with flashing eyes. 
“ I wouldn’t be so mean for the world. I’d help 
you if I could, but it wouldn’t be right. I can’t 
do mean things even to help people. Mother 
wouldn’t like it.” 

“ Oh, never mind your mother ; she needn’t 
know. I don’t tell Mamma half the things I do.” 

“ I tell Mother everything,” said Nora, simply, 
and May — who had been listening to the conver- 
sation with deep interest — broke in virtuously — 

“ I always tell my mother everything, too, just 
the same as Nora. Say, Lina, what would you 
give Nora if she wrote that composition for 
you ? ” 


KATHLEEN TAKES THE HELM 6 ; 

“ I didn’t ask her to write it ; only to help me 
with it,” protested Lina, “ and I would give her 
something lovely, but I won’t tell what.” 

“ Maybe she’ll do it if you tell,” suggested 
May, with pardonable curiosity, but Nora cut her 
short. 

‘‘No, I won’t, and you needn’t tell me, Lina. 
I’m very sorry, but Miss Lane told expressly that 
we were not to ask for any help in our composi- 
tions. I’m sure you can do it all right if you 
really try. You’re ever so much cleverer than I 
am in most things. Now come along. May ; I 
promised Mother to come right home from 
school.” 

‘‘ Don’t you like presents, Nora? ” inquired 
May, when Lina had taken a sulky departure, and 
they were hurrying on in the direction of home. 

“ I love them,” said Nora ; “ I guess everybody 
does ; but it wouldn’t be fair to take a present for 
doing something that wasn’t right.” 

May gave the elder girl an admiring glance. 

“ You’re very good,” she said in a tone of con- 
viction. “ I guess you must be ’most as good as 
Elsie Dinsmore. She’s a girl in a book I brought 
home from Sunday school last week, and she was 
so good she wouldn’t play the piano on Sunday, 
even when her father ordered her to do it. She 
never did anything except what she read in the 
Bible that she ought to do. It’s a lovely book, 


68 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


but some of it’s very sad. Lina has beautiful 
things. Perhaps she’d have given you a pair of 
earrings like those she wears herself.” 

Nora laughed. 

“ Mother wouldn’t let me wear them if she did,” 
she said. ” Now we’re going to cross the avenue 
so keep tight hold of my hand till we’re on the 
other side.” 

“ Why, there’s a big automobile in front of our 
house 1 ” remarked May, as, having safely crossed 
the avenue, they turned their own corner. 
“ There’s a lady inside, and she looks as if she’s 
gone to sleep.” 

** The chauffeur looks as if he were asleep, too,” 
said Nora. ‘‘They must be waiting for some 
one.” And, with an indifferent glance at the 
handsome limousine, she hurried up the steps — 
which the janitor happened to be cleaning — and 
in at the open front door of the apartment house. 
At sight of Nora, the janitor paused in his sweep- 
ing. 

“ I thought I saw you come in before,” he re- 
marked in a tone of some surprise. 

“ I guess you must have seen my ghost,” said 
Nora, laughing. “I’m just home from school I 
Did you happen to see Mother come in ? ” 

“ Yes, she came in quite a while ago, and I was 
that sure — but well, my wife does say I see queer 
things sometimes.” 


KATHLEEN TAKES THE HELM 69 


“ Come in and tell me a story,” pleaded May, 
as they paused on the second landing. “ Jimmy’s 
gone to the show with Mamma, and they won’t 
be home for ever so long.” 

Nora shook her head. 

” I’ve got to go and see Mummy first,” she 
said. “ Maybe I’ll come down by and by. I’m 
so anxious to tell Mummy about the composition.” 
And Nora hurried on up the stairs, to the sunny 
studio, where she was always sure of receiving a 
joyful greeting from her cheerful, hard-working 
little mother. 

“ Here I am. Mummy, and I’ve got something 
lovely to tell you. I’ve ” 

Nora had opened the studio door, but as she 
crossed the threshold the words suddenly died on 
her lips, and she stood quite still, rooted to the 
spot by sheer amazement at the sight which met 
her view. For there, in the big rocker between 
the windows, sat her mother, and in her lap — one 
arm flung affectionately about her neck — was — 
Kathleen I At the sound of the opening door both 
faces were turned in her direction, and the next 
moment Kathleen had sprung from her mother’s 
lap, and rushed forward to meet her, with the joy- 
ful exclamation — 

‘‘ I’m here, Nora I I came, you see. Oh, isn’t 
Mother wonderful ? ” 

Kathleen 1” gasped Nora, ‘‘oh, Kathleen I ” 


70 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


And the twins hugged each other in a rapture of 
excitement and delight. 

But it was of her mother that Nora was think- 
ing most, and as she turned from the eager Kath- 
leen to the little woman in the rocker, her heart 
gave a great bound, for never, never before 
had she seen such a look of joy on Mummy’s 
face. With a little cry, Mrs. O’Neil held out her 
arms. 

“ Come here, both of you,” she said. Oh, 
my darlings, to think of having you both in my 
arms together ! It seems too beautiful and won- 
derful to be true.” 

“ But how — how did you ever manage it ? ” de- 
manded Nora, when they were all a little calmer, 
and were sitting on the couch together, Mrs. 
O’Neil in the middle, with an arm round each twin. 

“ I’ll tell you,” said Kathleen. “ It’s quite a 
long story, though, and Mother heard it all before 
you came in.” 

“ Never mind, darling,” said Mrs. O’Neil ; 

I can’t hear it too often. Tell Nora all about 
it.” 

Well,” began Kathleen, “ I’ve been thinking 
and thinking about you and Mother ever since 
that Sunday afternoon. I couldn’t think of any- 
thing else, and I dreamt about you almost every 
night. The next Sunday I thought I should see 
you in the park, and I meant to spend the whole 


KATHLEEN TAKES THE HELM 7 1 

afternoon just looking out of the window, but it 
rained so hard there was hardly anybody out. I 
was so disappointed that I cried, and Sarah 
couldn’t imagine what the matter was, and Mrs. 
Anderson said I must be nervous. I had to let 
them think I was just missing Daddy, and of course 
I did miss him, too, but that wasn’t what made me 
cry. All the week I kept thinking about the next 
Sunday, but when it came it rained even harder 
than it did the Sunday before. Then I got to 
worrying about Mother. I remembered you said 
she had a bad cold, and I was afraid that she 
might get pneumonia and die, and I should never 
see her at all, and that made me dreadfully un- 
happy. That’s right ; hug me again. Mother ; I 
love it. 

“ Well, I guess I was pretty cross, and I couldn’t 
seem to pay attention to my lessons. At last Miss 
Hastings spoke to Mrs. Anderson, and she sent for 
the doctor. He gave me a nasty tonic, and said 
he thought I needed a change. I was afraid a 
change meant going to Atlantic City, and I said I 
wouldn’t go. I was there last year, and I got so 
tired of the wheel-chairs, and the concerts on the 
pier. Besides, I wanted to be at home on Sun- 
day, in case you and Mother came to the park. I 
made a good deal of fuss, and the doctor said I 
needn’t go away if I objected so much. 

“I wanted to come here — oh, you can’t think 


72 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


how I wanted to — but I didn’t see how I was ever 
going to manage it. I hardly ever go out with- 
out Sarah or Mrs. Anderson, and I’d promised 
you not to tell any one. But this afternoon such 
a wonderful thing happened ! Sarah came to me 
after lunch, and said she was going to be very 
busy, and would I mind going out with Selma in- 
stead of with her. Selma is the chambermaid, 
and she doesn’t understand English very well, and 
always does just what I tell her. So when Sarah 
asked me that, my heart just gave a big jump, 
and I said right away that I wouldn’t mind a bit. 

“ I didn’t say anything to Selma till we were 
out in the park, and then I asked her if she would 
do me a great favor, and she said, ‘ Certainly, Miss 
Katleen,’ just as she always does whenever I ask 
her to do anything. So I told her I wanted to go 
and see a lady who used to know me when I was 
a little baby, and wanted to see me very much. I 
didn’t want her to come in with me, but just to 
wait outside in the car. Of course if I had said 
that to Sarah she would have asked a lot of ques- 
tions, and insisted on knowing all about it, but 
Selma just said, ‘ Certainly, Miss Katleen,’ again, 
so I rang the bell, and told Michael to bring us 
here. Michael is quite a new chauffeur, and 
doesn’t know where I’m in the habit of going, so 
he just touched his hat, and said, ‘Very good. 
Miss,’ and in a few minutes we were here. 


KATHLEEN TAKES THE HELM 


73 


“ When I saw the house I was so excited that I 
began to shake all over, and when Michael jumped 
down to ring the bell, and asked me what name I 
wanted, I could hardly answer ‘Mrs. O’Neil.’ 
But nobody noticed, and I came up-stairs all by 
myself. 

“ I remembered you said you lived on the top 
floor, so I kept on going up till there weren’t any 
more stairs, and then I knocked at this door. I 
heard somebody say, ‘ Come in,’ and I was sure it 
must be Mother, because it was such a sweet voice. 
So I opened the door, and Mother was writing on 
the typewriter, and she just turned her head a 
little, and said, ‘ Why, Nora darling, what made 
you knock ? ’ I didn’t say a word, and when she 
saw me standing there, shaking all over, she 
knew all of a sudden that I wasn’t Nora, and 

then Oh, I can’t tell the rest ; it was all so 

beautiful and wonderful I ” And Kathleen buried 
her face on her mother’s shoulder with a sob. 

“ And have you been here long ? ” inquired 
Nora, with deep interest. 

Mrs. O’Neil gave a sudden start, and a fright- 
ened look came into her face. 

“ Oh, Kathleen darling,” she exclaimed anx- 
iously ; “ I am afraid we have both forgotten the 
time. You must go, my precious, or the maid 
will be coming to look for you. It must be at 
least an hour since you came.” 


74 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


“ Go ! ” repeated Kathleen, lifting her face in 
astonishment. Oh, I’m not going for ever so 
long. I’ve only just come.” 

Poor little Mrs. O’Neil looked very much dis- 
tressed. 

“ My dear little girl,” she said tremulously, “ if 
you knew what it cost me to send you away I I 
have wanted you for so long, and now you have 
come to me of your own accord, but I dare not let 
you stay. Mr. Crawford might be very angry, 
and I have no right ” 

“ No, Daddy wouldn’t be angry,” interrupted 
Kathleen ; “ I know he wouldn’t. Anyhow, I’m 
not going, and if people make a fuss I’ll say it 
was all my fault. I’ve found you, and I’m going 
to stay with you, I am ; I am ! ” And she flung 
her arms round her mother’s neck, and clung to 
her. 

Mrs. O’Neil gazed helplessly from Kathleen to 
Nora. 

“ What am I to do, Nora ? ” she faltered ; oh, 
what can I do ? ” 

Suddenly Nora sprang to her feet, her face 
aglow with excitement. 

‘‘I’ve got an idea!” she cried. “Mother, are 
we really just exactly alike ? ” 

“So much alike that I don’t believe even I 
could tell you apart except for your clothes,” her 
mother answered. 


KATHLEEN TAKES THE HELM 


75 


“ Then I donT see why we couldn’t do it. Oh, 
Mother darling, it’s such a wonderful idea. Kath- 
leen, would you be satisfied if you could spend 
just one night here with Mother ? Would you be 
willing to go home again in the morning ? ” 

‘‘Nora,” protested Mrs. O’Neil, “what are you 
talking about ? Of course Kathleen couldn’t ” 

“ Yes, she could. Just wait till you hear my 
plan. It popped into my head all of a sudden, 
and it’s wonderful. Why can’t Kathleen and I 
change clothes ? Then she could stay here all 
night, and you could be so happy together.” 
There was a catch in Nora’s voice, and she caught 
her breath in a quickly suppressed sob. 

Kathleen clapped her hands. 

“ You mean you will go home instead of me I ” 
she cried. “ Why, of course you can, and it will 
be the greatest fun. Nobody will ever find out, 
and I can tell you just what to do, so you won’t 
make mistakes. Oh, Nora, what a darling you 
are to think of it ! ” 

“ But, my dear children, I never heard of such 
nonsense,” cried Mrs. O’Neil. “ Of course I could 
never consent to such a deception. Nora, I be- 
lieve that romantic little brain of yours will run 
away with you some day.” 

Nora’s face fell, but Kathleen had not had her 
own way for twelve years for nothing. 

“ I’m not going home to-night,” she announced. 


NORA'S TmN SISTER 


76 

** Pm going to stay here whether Nora takes my 
place or not. If you try to make me go, I shall 
scream, and maybe I shall have a convulsion. I 
used to have them when I was little, and the doc- 
tor told Daddy I mustn’t be crossed.” 

“ A convulsion I ” gasped Mrs. O’Neil, turning 
pale. ” Oh, my darling, I never heard of that. 
How very terrible ! ” 

“ Well, I haven’t had one since I got my teeth,” 
Kathleen admitted, but I might if I were very 
much upset, and, oh. Mother darling, if you make 
me go right straight away again, I know it will 
break my heart.” And Kathleen burst into a 
perfect tempest of crying, and clung to her mother 
as if she would never let her go again. 

Mrs. O’Neil gazed helplessly at Nora, a world 
of agony and longing in her eyes. 

” Do you think you could possibly do it ? ” she 
whispered. 

** I’m sure I could, if Kathleen would tell me a 
few things,” Nora declared. ” It would be just 
like acting a part in a play, and Mrs. Judson says 
she is sure I could act. Oh, Mother, I’m so sorry I 
It’s all my fault. If only I hadn’t gone up-stairs 
to see Kathleen that Sunday, it could never have 
happened. But now it has happened, ahd Kath- 
leen will be so unhappy if we send her away so 
soon. Won’t you let me try to do something to 
help?” 


KATHLEEN TAKES THE HELM 


77 


“ I won^t go I ” sobbed Kathleen ; I said be- 
fore I wouldn^t. ril go to-morrow if I have to, 
but Fm going to spend this one night with Mother. 
It won't be a bit hard, Nora, it really won't. Mrs. 
Anderson has gone to see her daughter in Brook- 
lyn, and won't be home to dinner, so the only per- 
son who matters is Sarah. Sarah isn't nearly as 
clever as she thinks she is, and I'm sure she won't 
suspect a thing. You know where the school- 
room is, and my bedroom is right next. You can 
just throw your things on the bed, and Sarah will 
put them away. Then you can read, or play the 
victrola, or do anything you like till dinner-time. 
Brown will wait on the table, and he never talks, 
so you can just eat, and go up-stairs again. No- 
body will bother you, and you can go to bed 
whenever you feel like it. Sarah will brush your 
hair, but you needn’t talk to her ; she’ll only think 
you’re sulky. Perhaps she’ll begin about Joy St. 
Clair, but you needn't pay any attention, or you 
can tell her you're not interested." 

“ I'm afraid that wouldn't be very polite," ob- 
jected Nora. “ Don’t you ever talk to people at 
home?" 

** Not very much, except to Daddy. They're 
all so stupid, you see, and I don’t think any of 
them like me." 

Instinctively Mrs. O’Neil's arms tightened about 
the little figure in her lap. 


78 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


“ Oh, my darling, don’t say that,” she mur- 
mured. “ I am sure they all love you dearly.” 

Kathleen shook her head. 

“ No, they don’t,” she maintained. “ Nobody 
loves me but Daddy and you. I know you love 
me ; that’s why I’m going to stay with you. 
Now listen, Nora, and I’ll explain just what you 
are going to do. I’ve thought it all out and it’s 
very easy. To-morrow is Saturday, so there 
won’t be any lessons to bother about. You’ll have 
to see Mrs. Anderson at breakfast, I suppose, un- 
less you have it in bed. But she never bothers 
much about things, and I’m quite sure she’ll never 
find out. Then right after breakfast you say you 
want the car, and that you’re going to take out 
Muriel Trevor. Don’t forget that name, Muriel 
Trevor. It’s all right, because I did intend to 
take her, and to bring her home to lunch after- 
wards. The Trevors live right around the corner 
from us, and Muriel’s Fraulein always goes with 
her, so Sarah won’t expect to be taken along. 
Then, when you get out, just tell Michael to bring 
you here again, and I’ll be all ready. We can 
change clothes, and I’ll take your place in the car 
and go for Muriel. Oh, it’s just the most excit- 
ing thing that ever happened ! I’m going to stay 
here to-night, with my own mother, and nobody 
is going to know a single thing about it but us, 
only when Daddy comes home I shall have to tell 


KATHLEEN TAKES THE HELM 79 

him, because I always tell him everything. He 
won’t be angry, though, for he’s much too kind, 
and he loves me so much he wouldn’t let my 
mother be unhappy for the world.” 


CHAPTER VI 


NORA PLAYS A PART 

W ITH a long sigh, Nora sank back in the 
corner of the big limousine, and tried 
to think she wasn’t frightened. Her 
heart was beating in big thumps, and she was 
conscious of the fact that she was trembling. 
Then she realized that the door of the car was 
still open, and that the chauffeur was waiting for 
orders. 

** Home, Miss Kathleen ? ” he inquired respect- 
fully. 

Nora nodded. To have spoken just then would 
have been impossible. The chauffeur closed the 
door, sprang to his seat, and the car started. Nora 
leaned forward to catch one more glimpse of the 
familiar house, where she knew her mother was 
watching from the studio window. She would 
have waved a cheerful good-bye, just to show 
Mummy "she wasn’t frightened, but already the 
car had turned the corner. 

** Miss Katleen make very long call.'* 

8o 


JVOI^A PLA VS A PART 


8l 


At the sound of the gentle voice, Nora turned 
with a start, to the pretty, placid young woman, 
who was occupying the opposite corner. 

“ Tm sorry I kept you waiting so long,’^ she 
faltered, “ but — but we had a good deal to talk 
about. I hope you weren’t cold.” 

“ Oh, no, not at all. It is very good of Miss 
Katleen to tink of dat. De air is beautiful, and 
I tink I did take a little sleep. We will not tell 
Sarah. She does not tink it right dat one sleeps 
in de car.” 

“ No, we won’t tell her,” promised Nora. “ She 
doesn’t suspect anything,” she added to herself. 
And then, remembering Kathleen’s instructions 
not to talk much, she relapsed into silence which 
remained unbroken until they had bowled rapidly 
across the park, and drawn up at Mr. Crawford’s 
door. 

“ Any more orders. Miss ? ” inquired the chauf- 
feur, as Nora and Selma stepped out of the 
limousine. 

“ Oh, no, thank you,” said Nora, and the idea 
that any one should ask her for orders struck her 
as so funny that she was seized by a sudden, 
almost irresistible desire to laugh. She hurried 
up the steps rather faster than might otherwise 
have been the case, and so failed to see the look 
of surprise on the chauffeur’s face. 

“ My lady’s getting very polite all of a sudden,” 


82 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


he remarked in a low tone to Selma, but the maid 
— who was hurrying up the steps after her charge 
— did not answer. 

Nora remembered the way to the schoolroom, 
and encountered no one as she went up the two 
flights of stairs to the third floor. 

“Shall I take de hat?” inquired the gentle 
Selma, “ and will Miss Katleen like to change her 
dress ? ” 

“No, thank you,” said Nora. “Yes, I will, 
though,” she added, with a sudden inspiration. 
“ I’d like to wear the dress Kath — I mean the 
one I wore at the birthday party.” All at once it 
occurred to Nora that she was going to enjoy 
“ her part.” 

Selma looked very much surprised, but before 
she could speak, a tall, thin person, in a black 
dress, appeared on the scene. 

“ Indeed you’ll do nothing of the kind. Miss 
Kathleen,” declared this person in a very stern, 
disapproving voice. “ Who ever heard of such 
an idea I To wear one of your very best dresses 
at home, where there isn’t a living soul to look at 
it ! You’ll keep on just what you’ve got. Here, 
give me your hat, and then go into the school- 
room, and stay there till dinner-time. I’m as busy 
as I can be, fixing over your things in here, and 
the whole place is upset.” 

Nora said nothing, although she doubted 


NORA PLAYS A PART 


83 


whether Kathleen would have submitted quite 
so meekly, and when the tall woman had taken 
her outdoor things, and the more respectful Selma 
had disappeared, she went into the schoolroom, 
and began to look about for some means of pass- 
ing the time until she should be summoned to 
dinner. Three minutes later, she was kneeling 
before the bookcase, her eyes scanning the long 
list of titles with almost hungry delight. Of all 
things in the world, Nora loved reading, and 
never before had it been her privilege to find her- 
self alone in the presence of such a number of 
fascinating books. 

In her interest in these treasures, she almost 
forgot, for the moment, that she was “ playing a 
part.’^ She examined one book after another ; 
looked at pictures, turned pages, and finally be- 
came so absorbed in an exciting story that she 
quite forgot the lapse of time and was only 
brought back to her present surroundings by the 
sound of a voice at her side. 

“ Time to take your medicine. Miss Kathleen.” 

The tall woman was standing over her, with a 
glass in her hand, and a very determined expres- 
sion on her face. Nora recalled Kathleen’s men- 
tion of ” a nasty tonic,” and instinctively shrank 
back. 

I donH think Fll take it this evening,” she 
faltered ; ” I feel perfectly well.” 


84 


.NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


** You're not perfectly well even if you do feel 
so," snapped Sarah. ** That’s only an excuse, and 
you know it. The doctor’s orders are that this 
medicine is to be taken three times a day for the 
next two weeks. Come now, swallow it. The 
quicker it’s over, the better it’ll be.’’ 

There seemed no help for it, so Nora swallowed 
the contents of the glass at a gulp. It certainly 
was very disagreeable, and she did not blame 
Kathleen for objecting to her tonic. Sarah 
watched her keenly, but there was neither doubt 
nor suspicion in her glance. 

“ That’s a good girl,’’ she remarked, and there 
was approval in her tone. ‘‘ If you would always 
take it that way, you wouldn’t mind half so much. 
Here’s a peppermint to take away the taste. 
Now, you’d better put up those bookSo It’s din- 
ner-time.’’ 

Meekly, Nora replaced the books she had been 
examining, and she had just finished when there 
came a gentle tap at the door, and the butler pre- 
sented himself, with the announcement — 

** Dinner is served, Miss.’’ 

" I feel just as if I really were acting in a play,” 
Nora said to herself, as she followed the butler 
down to the dining-room. I don’t believe any 
other girl ever had quite such a funny experience. 
If I could only tell the girls at school about it, 
how interesting it would be, but I suppose it will 


NORA PLA YS A PART 8$ 

always have to be a secret. Oh, what a beautiful 
place ! 

Nora had paused on the threshold of the din- 
ing-room, and was gazing in delighted admiration 
at the beautiful room, and the table sparkling with 
glass and silver. 

“ Why, it looks as if there were going to be a 
party I ” The words were out before she could 
stop them, but the next moment she had realized 
her mistake, and was blushing scarlet, as she 
slipped into the chair the butler had pushed for- 
ward for her. The man looked pleased. 

** I am glad you like the table. Miss,” he said, 
respectfully. “ I put on the pink candle shades, 
as you requested last night.” 

“It was very kind of you,” murmured Nora, 
then stopped in confusion. Was it the correct 
thing to tell butlers they were very kind? She 
had never had any experience with a butler be- 
fore. Well, it was only for one evening, at any 
rate, and she was going to enjoy herself. 

And she did enjoy herself, despite the strange- 
ness of it all. What a good dinner that was, and 
how wonderfully everything was served I First 
came a delicious soup, with little pieces of toast 
floating about in it. Then fish, with a queer 
sauce, that burned her tongue, but was very good, 
notwithstanding. Then roast chicken, with cran- 
berry jelly, and several different vegetables. 


86 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


Finally, a delicious dessert, which seemed to be 
compounded of every good thing imaginable, all 
mixed up together, and served in a form like 
jelly. If only Mummy could have been there. 
That was Nora’s one unfulfilled desire. 

Your appetite is much better to-night. Miss,” 
remarked the butler, breaking the silence for the 
first time, as he gave Nora her second helping 
of chicken. “ If you keep on like this, you won’t 
have to take tonics much longer.” 

He spoke so pleasantly, and looked so good- 
natured, that Nora smiled. 

“ I don’t like that tonic at all,” she said, con- 
fidentially. “ I never took — I mean I hope I 
sha’n’t have to take it long.” 

She would have liked to continue the conver- 
sation, for she was not fond of remaining silent, 
and there was something rather appalling about 
the big dining-room, and the long table with no- 
body at it but herself, but Brown, who was English, 
and had strict ideas about the duties of a butler, 
said no more, and remembering Kathleen’s in- 
structions, Nora held her peace. 

Dinner over, she went back to the schoolroom, 
intending to go on with her book, but somehow 
her interest in books seemed to have suddenly 
flagged. It was all so strange and unusual, and 
now that bedtime was approaching, she was be- 
ginning to feel queer, and just a little frightened. 


JVOI^A PLAYS A PART 


87 


She had never been away from her mother for a 
night in her life. She was glad Mummy had 
Kathleen, of course, oh, very glad indeed. 
Mummy had so longed for her other twin, and 
now she had her all to herself, just for to-night. 
Still, if she could only have been there too. 
Mummy would have been just as happy. She 
thought of the big, shabby studio, and Mummy 
in the rocker, with Kathleen in her lap. She 
wondered if Kathleen had helped wash the dinner 
dishes. It was not likely that people who lived 
in palaces knew much about housework. She 
had been envying her twin sister in her beautiful 
home, ever since Mummy had told her the story, 
but now all at once she realized that being the 
adopted daughter of a millionaire, and having an 
automobile, and all the fine clothes one wanted, 
didn’t mean so very much, after' all. What was 
the use in having beautiful dresses if one were not 
allowed to wear them when one chose, and then 
to have a person like that disagreeable Sarah al- 
ways about, instead of Mummy — Kathleen had 
said that nobody cared much about her except 
her daddy. Poor Kathleen ! If only they could 
all live together and be happy I Suddenly Nora 
began to cry, without precisely knowing why. 

“ What in the world is the matter. Miss Kath- 
leen ? ” 

At the sound of Sarah’s astonished voice, Nora 


88 


NORA’S TWIN SISTER 


— who had flung herself on the schoolroom sofa 
— lifted her head from the cushions, and hastily 
sprang to her feet. She was conscious of the fact 
that her cheeks were wet. 

“There isn’t anything the matter,” she ex- 
plained hastily. “ I — I only just lay down for a 
few minutes. I guess, perhaps, Fd better go to 
bed.” 

“ You’ve been crying,” maintained the uncom- 
promising Sarah. 

Nora blushed, and her eyes dropped, but she 
said nothing. 

“Now see here,” said Sarah, and Nora was sur- 
prised to find how kind her voice could be, 
“ you’ve got to stop this fretting. It doesn’t do 
a bit of good, and besides it’s very silly. You 
don’t know what may happen to-morrow.” 

Nora admitted that she did not. 

“ Well, just wait and see. We never know 
what’s before us, and may be to-morrow night at 
this time you’ll be laughing at yourself for having 
cried to-night. I know you miss your father, but 
as I said before, there isn’t any use in fretting. 
Now do you really want to go to bed ? Because 
if you do. I’ll help you undress, and then run 
round to see my mother for a little while.” 

“ You can go right away if you want to,” said 
Nora, eagerly ; “ I don’t need any help.” She 
felt as though a weight had been suddenly lifted 


JVO/^A PLA YS A PART 


89 


from her shoulders, but it did seem rather funny 
to be suspected of missing a person she had never 
seen. 

Sarah laughed grimly. 

‘‘You don’t need any help, don’t you?” she 
said, sarcastically. “ Well, 1 must say I’d like to 
see you try to do something for yourself once in 
a while. You’re about the most helpless child I 
ever saw. When I think of — when I think of all 
poor little Miss Joy did for herself ” 

Nora rose. She realized that if she hoped to 
carry out “ her part,” she must not let Sarah 
suspect that she had dressed and undressed her- 
self every day of her life since she was nine. She 
would have liked to ask some questions about 
“ Miss Joy,” but it would not do to display igno- 
rance on that subject, any more than any other, so 
she followed the maid to the big, luxurious bed- 
room, and there submitted patiently to having her 
hair brushed and braided, her shoes and stockings 
taken off, and various other things, which it 
seemed to her quite absurd that any girl of twelve 
could not have done for herself. 

“ Why, I declare, you’re getting real fat,” ob- 
served Sarah in a tone of surprise, as she whisked 
off Nora’s dress. “ I’ll have to begin letting out 
some of your things. I don’t know what that 
doctor meant by saying you were losing flesh.” 

“ If I’m getting fat, perhaps I won’t have to 


90 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


take any more of that medicine,” ventured Nora, 
with a sudden hope. ‘‘ It’s very horrid.” 

‘‘ The doctor’s orders must be obeyed,” returned 
Sarah, and the subject was dropped. 

“ Now kneel down and let me hear you say 
your prayers,” commanded Sarah, when Nora 
was in her nightgown, ready to get into bed. 

Nora hesitated. 

“ Must I say them out loud ? ” she inquired, 
timidly. Can’t I wait and say them to myself 
after you’ve gone away and put out the light ? ” 

Sarah shook her head. 

“I can’t depend on you,” she said. ‘‘As like 
as not you’ll fall off to sleep and forget all about 
your prayers. I never leave a child till I’ve heard 
her say her prayers properly.” 

Nora sighed, but dared not argue, so she 
dropped on her knees by the bedside, and rever- 
ently repeated The Lord’s Prayer, and “Jesus, 
Tender Shepherd, Hear Me” aloud. She was a 
little afraid lest Kathleen might be in the habit of 
repeating some other prayer, but Sarah appeared 
satisfied. 

“ You said them very well to-night,” she re- 
marked approvingly, as Nora rose from her knees. 
“ Now get into bed, and I’ll put out the light. I 
won’t shut the door tight, and if you should want 
anything you can ring for Selma.” 

“I believe she really means to be kind,” Nora 


JVOI^A PLA YS A PART 


91 


said to herself, as she sank down in the soft bed, 
and the maid tucked in the clothes. “ It’s just 
her funny way of talking that seems cross. Good- 
night, Sarah,” she added aloud ; “ I hope you’ll 
find your mother well.” 

“ Thank you. Miss Kathleen,” said Sarah, and 
to herself she added, as she left the room — 

If she was always as little trouble as she's 
been to-night, a person might get real fond of her 
in time.” 

For some minutes after Sarah had left her, Nora 
lay, with wide-open eyes, staring into the dark- 
ness. She was not at all sleepy. Indeed, it was 
earlier than her usual bedtime, and the strange- 
ness and excitement of her position were enough 
to keep her awake for hours. It was all very 
comfortable, and all very interesting, but, oh, if 
she could only just say good-night to Mummy ! 
She would not change places with Kathleen per- 
manently ; no, not for the world. Life in this big, 
luxurious house without Mummy would be a very 
dreary affair indeed. Then she remembered that 
Kathleen had never known Mummy until to-day. 
A lump rose in her throat, and the tears started to 
her eyes. 

“ I don’t believe she'll ever want to come back,” 
she said to herself, with a sob. “ Nobody could 
possibly ever want to leave Mummy. I guess 
I'll say my prayers again. It didn't seem like 


92 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


really saying them before. Fm sure nobody can 
really pray with another person listening to every 
word.” 

She folded her hands, and whispered, ** Our 
Father,” and Jesus, Tender Shepherd,” all over 
again, and then she added a little petition of her 
own, that God would watch over Mother and 
Kathleen, and bring her safely home in the morn- 
ing. 

“Miss Kathleen.” 

At the sound of the low voice at the door, Nora 
opened her eyes with a start. 

“ What’s the matter ? ” she inquired, anxiously. 

“ Notting, Miss Katleen, but Sarah has gone 
out. Would Miss Katleen like dat I make de 
lady sing, like I do last Sunday night ? ” 

Nora was going to ask “What lady?” but 
checked herself just in time. 

“ All right,” she said, and lay down again, not 
without a feeling of considerable curiosity. 

She listened to the sound of Selma’s retreating 
footsteps. There was a moment of silence, and 
then she heard the sound of low, soft music, and 
Alma Gluck’s wonderful voice began to sing : 

** Mid pleasures and palaces though I may roam. 

Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home. 

Home, sweet, sweet home ; there’s no place like home.” 

“ It’s the victrola in the schoolroom,” murmured 


NORA PLA YS A PART 


93 


Nora, with a little sigh of pleasure. How beau- 
tiful it is I If Mummy were only here, too, but 
it’s true what the song says, there isn’t any place 
in the world quite like home.” 


CHAPTER VII 


A' 


THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 

RE you awake, Miss Kathleen ? It^s 
time to get up.” 

Nora opened her eyes, and sat up. 
For the first moment she could not remember 
where she was, and stared about the unfamiliar 
room in bewilderment. Then it all came back in 
a rush of memory, and she realized that it was 
morning, and that Sarah, already dressed, was 
standing by her bedside. 

“What time is it?” she inquired, more for the 
sake of saying something than because she really 
particularly cared. 

“ Only seven, but you’ve got to get up early 
this morning. You’re going somewhere right 
after breakfast.” 

Sarah spoke quite pleasantly ; she was even 
looking a little excited, but Nora did not notice 
that. 

“ I know all about it,” she said, eagerly. “I’m 
to take Muriel Trevor for a ride, and I’m to go 
for her by myself, because her Fraulein always 
goes with her.” 


94 


THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 


95 


Nora felt rather proud of having remembered 
her lesson so well, but Sarah smiled rather mys- 
teriously. 

“Your bath is ready,^* she said, “and please 
hurry, for breakfast is at a quarter to eight.'’ 

Nora had no objection to hurrying. Indeed, 
now that the night was over, her chief desire was 
to get home as soon as possible. How she did 
hope Kathleen would be ready to leave at once, 
and would not make a fuss, as she had done yes- 
terday I 

“ I managed pretty well for one night," she told 
herself, as she plunged into the warm bath Sarah 
had prepared for her, “ but I couldn't possibly 
keep it up much longer. Kathleen has got to 
come home this morning, whether she wants to 
or not. Anyway, she's used to getting on without 
Mummy, and I’m not." 

Sarah seemed very busy and preoccupied. 
She kept dashing in and out of the room, and 
several times Nora heard her speaking in the 
hall, as if giving orders to some one. Nora did 
not pay much attention, however, for, after all, 
the affairs of the Crawford household were no 
concern of hers. 

“ I suppose I shall have to meet that other per- 
son Kathleen talked about," she said to herself, 
rather anxiously, as she went down to breakfast. 
“ Oh, I do hope she won’t find out, but if she 


96 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


doesn^t pay any more attention to me than Sarah 
and the butler, it will be all right/ ^ 

Her heart began to beat rather fast, when she 
entered the dining-room, and saw an elderly lady 
in a widow's cap, already at the breakfast-table, 
but the lady merely gave her a nod, and a curt 
“ Good morning, Kathleen,” and her courage rose 
again. Brown, the butler, was standing behind 
her chair, and she wished him a pleasant ” Good 
morning,” which seemed to cause him some little 
surprise. The housekeeper also looked up from her 
coffee — looking as if something had surprised her 

” It’s a lovely morning, isn’t it?” remarked 
Nora, feeling that it was incumbent upon her to 
say something. 

‘‘ It looks so now,” was the housekeeper’s rather 
guarded admission, ‘‘ but I shouldn’t be surprised 
if we had rain before night. I have that pain in 
my rheumatic joint that I always have before a 
storm.” 

Nora glanced out of the window at the bright 
Spring sunshine. 

” It must be rather interesting to know what 
the weather is going to be,” she said. “It 
doesn’t look a bit like rain this morning, but I sup- 
pose if you were going off anywhere for the day, 
you’d take an umbrella. It’s very uncomfortable 
to get your hat spoiled in the rain, don’t you 
think so ? ” 


THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 


97 


“ It never seems to trouble you very much/* 
said Mrs. Anderson, dryly, at which remark Nora 
blushed, and relapsed into silence. 

At home, breakfast usually consisted of cereal 
and milk, with a cup of coffee for Mummy, and an 
egg, as a special treat, on Sunday. But here 
there were two kinds of cereal to choose from, 
bacon and eggs, broiled kidneys, and griddle- 
cakes. It was all delicious, but Nora did not en- 
joy it quite as much as she had enjoyed her 
dinner the evening before. The strain was be- 
ginning to tell upon her, and she was only anx- 
ious to get home, and bring her adventure to a 
satisfactory conclusion. She wondered how soon 
it would do to ask some one to send for the car. 
But in the meantime she must keep on ** playing 
her part,’* so she made another effort to start a 
conversation. 

** Sarah went to see her mother last night, and 
Selma started the victrola. A lady with a beauti- 
ful voice sang ‘ Home Sweet Home.* Don’t you 
love the victrola? ” 

** I cannot say that I am very fond of it,” said 
Mrs. Anderson, with a sigh. “ I have heard too 
much real music in my life to care for that sort of 
thing. But don’t stop to talk now. Hurry and 
finish your breakfast ; Sarah is waiting for you.” 

“What does she want me for?” inquired Nora, 
in a tone of sudden apprehension. Kathleen had 


98 


NORA'S TIV/N SISTER 


assured her that there would not be the slightest 
difficulty in getting away from Sarah. 

Mrs. Anderson smiled mysteriously, and glanced 
at the clock. 

You will know before long,” she said, not un- 
kindly, and then she took up the morning paper, 
and began to read 

But it was impossible to hurry very much over 
such a wonderful breakfast, and Nora was just 
beginning on her second helping of cakes, when 
Brown announced respectfully that Sarah was 
waiting, and would Miss Kathleen please come at 
once ? With a sigh of regret, Nora laid down 
her knife and fork, and rose from the table. Mrs. 
Anderson put down her newspaper at the same 
moment. 

‘‘ Run up-stairs and get on your things,” she 
said, with another glance at the clock. “ The car 
is waiting at the door.” 

Nora’s spirits rose. Getting away was going 
to be even easier than she had thought possible. 
She ran quickly up the two flights of stairs to the 
schoolroom floor, but there her feelings underwent 
a sudden change, for standing at the head of the 
stairs, in hat and jacket, was Sarah. 

** Come right along. Miss Kathleen,” she said 
in her quick, decided voice ; “ I’ve got your things 
all ready, and there isn’t any time to waste.” 

But — but I thought I was to go by myself,” 


THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 


99 


faltered Nora, in dismay, as Sarah was helping 
her into a long gray coat, which seemed unnec- 
essarily heavy for that warm Spring morning. 
“ Are you going, too ? ” 

“ Where did you think you were going by your- 
self?” inquired Sarah, sharply. 

“ Why, I thought I was going to take Muriel 
Trevor for a ride,” explained Nora, whose heart 
was rapidly sinking. 

Sarah laughed. 

“You didnT suppose you were going for Miss 
Muriel at this hour of the morning, did you?” she 
said. “ It’s only just half-past eight.” 

In a kind of dream, Nora submitted to the put- 
ting on of hat and gloves, and followed Sarah 
down-stairs. Some part of Kathleen’s well-laid 
plan was evidently going wrong. However, there 
was nothing to be done but pull herself together, 
and try to look cheerful. Mrs. Anderson was 
waiting in the front hall. 

“Good-bye, Kathleen,” she said, and Nora 
noticed that she was smiling, as if she were very 
much amused about something. 

“ Good-bye,” said Nora. “ It’s a lovely morn- 
ing for a ride, isn’t it ? ” 

“Very lovely indeed,” said the housekeeper, 
and she and Sarah exchanged amused glances. 
“ Good-bye, dear,” she added, kindly ; “ I hope 
you will have a pleasant time.” 


100 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


‘‘ And now I suppose you^d like to know where 
we’re going,” remarked Sarah, as the door of the 
limousine closed, and Michael sprang to his seat. 
Nora had noticed with surprise that no direction 
had been given to the chauffeur. 

“ Yes, I should like to know very much,” she 
said, politely. 

“ Well, we’re going to the Bermuda steamer. 
Your aunt and uncle are sailing this morning, and 
they want you to see them off.” 

Nora gave a great gasp and sank back in her 
seat Her aunt and uncle I Who in the world 
were they? Oh, why hadn’t Kathleen told her 
about them? It would be interesting to go on 
board a big ocean steamer, but the thought of 
meeting more new people was rather terrifying. 
What if this uncle and aunt were to discover that 
she wasn’t Kathleen ? The very thought made 
her heart beat fast, and she felt suddenly cold and 
frightened. But whatever happened, she must 
** play her part ” till the end. If, through any 
fault or mistake of hers, she should be the means 
of bringing trouble upon her mother, she could 
never be happy any more. So, for the second 
time that morning, she made a desperate effort to 
look pleased. 

“ It will be fun to go on a ship,” she said in a voice 
that trembled slightly, ** but I hope it won’t take 
very long. You see, I must go for Muriel Trevor ” 


THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 


101 


Sarah did not answer. She seemed interested 
in looking out of the window. The car was whirl- 
ing them rapidly down Fifth Avenue, where the 
big shops were just opening. It was a beautiful 
morning, and the air and sunshine, combined with 
the rapid movement of the car, were beginning to 
have an exhilarating effect on Nora. After all, it 
was not likely that these new people would take 
very much notice of her, she reflected. Kathleen 
had said nobody cared much about her except her 
daddy. It was certainly delightful to be bowled 
along in the big limousine, for those were the days 
when motoring was a comparative novelty, and 
until yesterday Nora had never been in an auto- 
mobile in her life. So she decided to enjoy the 
present moment to the full. 

The ride to the pier was not a very long one, 
but it was all new and interesting. Nora had 
never been in that part of the city before, and as 
the car turned from one crowded street into an- 
other, she leaned forward in her seat, her eyes 
round with excitement. 

“ I didn^t know there were so many people in 
New York,^^ she told Sarah. ** Do you suppose 
everybody is out in the street this morning ? ” 

But Sarah did not appear particularly interested. 

** It^s Saturday morning,’^ she said, ** and none 
of the children are in school. That's why we see 
so many." 


102 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


At last the car drew up at the entrance to a long 
pier, and they both got out. There were a great 
many people on the pier, all apparently bound for 
the Bermuda steamer, and Sarah grasped her 
charge’s arm firmly. 

“ Keep tight hold of me,” she commanded. 
“ If we once get separated in this crowd, we might 
never get together again. Oh, thank goodness, 
there’s Mr. Carew 1 ” 

Nora had no idea who Mr. Carew might be, but 
she followed the direction of Sarah’s glance and 
saw a gentleman beckoning to them from the deck 
of the steamer. “I wonder if he’s the uncle,” 
she said to herself, but there doesn’t seem to be 
any aunt with him.” 

The question was speedily settled by Mr. Carew 
himself, whose greeting, as they stepped from the 
gangplank on to the deck, was a cheery — 

Hello, Kathleen I here you are. You’ll find 
Aunt Kitty in her cabin ; number seventeen. I’m 
waiting here to make sure all the luggage is put 
on board.” 

“ He’s got a nice face,” reflected Nora, as she 
followed Sarah along the deck, and down the 
companionway to the saloon. Pm sure I 
should like him, but I don’t suppose I shall ever 
see him again after this morning.” 

The Bermuda boat was not very large, but to 
Nora — who had never been on board any vessel 


THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 103 

larger than a ferry-boat — it seemed almost pala- 
tial. She was rather glad they had come, for it 
would be so interesting to tell Mummy all about 
it. Mummy had been to Europe when she was a 
girl, and knew about ocean steamers, but she was 
always interested in everything Nora had to tell 
her. 

They were making their way along a narrow 
passage, with little rooms on each side, when, 
somewhere in the distance, a gong sounded. 
Nora paused in sudden alarm. 

“ What’s that for ? ” she inquired, anxiously. 

“To warn the people who aren’t sailing to go 
on shore,” Sarah answered. 

“ Then hadn’t we better go ? ” 

Sarah laughed. 

“ Goodness no,” she said. “ Why, you haven’t 
even seen your aunt yet. You wouldn’t come all 
this way for nothing, would you ? ” 

“Oh, no,” said Nora, with forced cheerful- 
ness; “only — only, if we shouldn’t get off in 
time ” 

At that moment they reached number seven- 
teen, and Sarah tapped at the door. Some one 
called “ Come in,” and they entered a large, com- 
fortable stateroom, where a very pretty young 
lady was unpacking a suit case. At sight of 
Nora and Sarah, the young lady looked up, with 
a smile. 


104 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


Well, here you are I ” she said. * What do 
you think of the ship, Kathleen ? 

She had a bright, pleasant manner, but it struck 
Nora that she was more interested in the stowing 
away of her belongings than in the arrival of her 
supposed niece. 

“ It’s lovely,” said Nora, rather hurriedly, ” but 
I think we’d better say good-bye right away. 
There’s a gong ringing, and Sarah says it’s to 
warn the people who aren’t going to get off.” 

“ Oh, there’s plenty of time,” said Mrs. Carew, 
easily ; “ they always begin sounding that gong 
ages too soon. Would you mind helping me a 
little, Sarah ? I decided at the last moment to 
leave Celestine at home ; she’s such a wretched 
sailor. I think I had better get my night things 
out at once, for I’m sure to be sick as soon as we 
pass Sandy Hook.” 

Sarah complied, and Nora — still feeling a little 
anxious and uncomfortable — sat down on the 
sofa. 

** I’m sorry you don’t feel well,” she said, sym- 
pathetically. ** Perhaps you’ll be better after the 
ship starts.” 

Mrs. Carew laughed. 

” No such luck,” she said. “ The last time I 
went abroad I scarcely lifted my head from my 
pillow during the entire voyage.” 

** How dreadful I ” exclaimed Nora. I shouldn ’t 


THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 


105 


think you^d ever want to go on a ship again, if it 
makes you so ill. There’s that gong again. 
Don’t you really think Sarah and I had better 
go?” 

Don’t worry about that gong,” said Mrs. 
Carew a little impatiently. ** Come here and help 
me fold some of these things.” 

Nora did not like to refuse, but she was not at 
all easy in her mind, especially as neither Mrs. 
Carew nor Sarah appeared to be particularly in a 
hurry. 

‘‘Here’s some candy,” said Mrs. Carew, pro- 
ducing a large box of Maillard’s from her suit case. 
“You may have it if you want it. A friend sent 
it to me. Imagine any one being so foolish as to 
send such a wretched sailor as I am candy to eat 
on a sea voyage.” 

“ Oh, thank you ! ” cried Nora, her face bright- 
ening. “ I love chocolates, and I hardly ever ” 

She was going to say, “ hardly ever have any,” 
but stopped herself just in time. 

At that moment the sound of a long, shrill 
whistle fell upon their ears. Nora gave a violent 
start. 

“ What’s that ? ” she demanded in sudden 
terror. 

“Only the siren. We’re just- Ah, here’s 

Uncle Stephen ; he’ll explain,” 

“Well, we’re off/’ remarked a cheerful voice. 


Io6 NORA’S TWIN SISTER 

and Mr. Carew came into the cabin, looking as 
calm and unperturbed as if the bottom hadn’t sud- 
denly fallen out of Nora’s world. 

“ Off I ” shrieked Nora, with a sudden rush 
towards the door ; “ but we mustn’t — oh, Sarah, 
come quick 1 The steamer’s going to start I ” 

She tried to dash past Mr. Carew, who was 
blocking the doorway, but he caught her and held 
her fast. Both he and his wife were laughing 
heartily. 

“ Why, Kathleen, you little goose I ” cried Mrs. 
Carew, “ don’t look so frightened. Don’t you un- 
derstand ? It’s a surprise. Your daddy planned 
it, and we all thought you would love it. You 
are not to get off at all. You and Sarah are go- 
ing to Bermuda with us.” 



“Oh, Sarah, come quick! The steamer’s going to start! ” 

Page 106 . 






CHAPTER VIII 


KATHLEEN RECEIVES A SHOCK 

W HEN Kathleen awoke that morning in 
her strange surroundings, it was with 
somewhat mixed sensations. She lay, 
with eyes still half closed, recalling the events of 
the previous evening. They all seemed much more 
like things one remembers in a dream than any 
waking reality. It had all been wonderful, and 
she had been happier than she could ever remem- 
ber being in her life, but at the same time it all 
seemed very strange and unreal. There was the 
dinner, for instance, so different from dinner at 
home. When she innocently inquired if it were 
the cook^s day out, her mother had smiled, 
and told her that there wasn’t any cook, and 
that she and Nora did all the housework them- 
selves. She had always supposed that every one 
had at least one maid, unless they were people of 
the servant class, like Sarah and Selma. The 
thought that her mother and sister might belong 
to that class was not altogether agreeable, but a 
glance at Mrs. O’Neil’s sweet, refined face, re- 
assured her on that point, and she resolved to tell 
107 


I 08 NORA*S TWIN SISTER 

Daddy about it, and ask him to send a servant at 
once to her mother and Nora. Daddy had never 
refused her anything, and she was sure he would 
not refuse her this. 

She had sat in her mother’s lap for a long time 
after dinner, and although they had neither of 
them talked very much, it had been very beauti- 
ful. Later, when she was in bed, her mother had 
knelt by her bedside, with such a strange, wonder- 
ful look in her eyes. 

I believe you love me as much as Daddy 
does 1 ” Kathleen had said, wonderingly, and her 
mother had answered very softly, “ Indeed, indeed 
I do, my darling.” And when she had fallen 
asleep at last, her mother’s hand was fast clasped 
in hers. 

But now it was morning, and things were be- 
ginning to look a little more commonplace. She 
remembered that there was no bathroom con- 
nected with the studio, for one thing. It would 
not be comfortable to dress without her morning 
bath. The thought of a cold sponge in a tin foot- 
tub did not appeal to her, and she decided to omit 
her usual ablutions that morning, even if her 
mother should object, as Sarah frequently did. 
Then there was the question of breakfast. She 
did not like the idea of not only eating but cook- 
ing breakfast in the room where one had slept all 
night. To be sure, the studio was large and airy. 


KATHLEEN RECEIVES A SHOCK 109 

and when Nora had described the life there, it had 
sounded quite fascinating. But Kathleen had 
been accustomed to every luxury since she could 
remember, and somehow the reality did not seem 
as attractive as she had pictured it in her imagina- 
tion. 

It was very quiet, and Kathleen wondered if 
her mother were still asleep. She was just open- 
ing her eyes, with the intention of finding out, 
when the door opened, and Mrs. O’Neil, already 
dressed, even to a hat and a long ulster, came in, 
laden with parcels. 

Why, Mother,” gasped Kathleen in astonish- 
ment, “ you haven’t been out already, have you ? ” 

” Yes, indeed I have,” said her mother, smiling, 
went to buy some things for breakfast. I 
hoped you wouldn’t wake until I got back.” 

“ What sort of things ? ” inquired Kathleen in a 
tone of deep interest. 

** Rolls and fresh eggs, and a jar of marma- 
lade.” 

Kathleen was sitting up in bed now, looking a 
good deal puzzled. 

” I didn’t know people went out to buy things 
like that,” she said. ‘‘I thought men always 
brought them to the basement door.” 

Mrs. O’Neil laughed. 

“Well, you see, we haven’t any basement 
door,” she said, “so we have to do our marketing 


no 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


ourselves. We don^t always have eggs and mar- 
malade for breakfast, but this is a very particular 
occasion. I don’t have my little Kathleen with 
me every morning, you know.” Mrs. O’Neil’s 
voice trembled, and although she was still smil- 
ing, there were tears in her eyes. 

Kathleen was deeply impressed. 

“ It seems very queer,” she said, slowly. “ I 
never thought of eggs and marmalade as being a 
treat. We have them every morning at home.” 

“ I know you do, darling. Now would you 
like to get up, and dress, while I get breakfast, or 
shall I bring it to you in bed ? ” 

Kathleen said she would rather get up. She 
did not even object to the tin tub, when her 
mother filled it from the tap in the hall. She was 
very quiet all the time she washed and dressed. 
Something was troubling her, and Kathleen was 
not used to being troubled. 

“I suppose Nora dresses herself without any 
help,” she remarked, when, after several unsuc- 
cessful attempts to button her boots, she was 
forced to apply to her mother for assistance. 

Mrs. O’Neil was forced to admit that Nora did. 

“ I’m afraid I’m a very stupid person,” said 
Kathleen, with a sigh. “ Sarah says I’m the most 
helpless girl of my age that she ever saw. I 
think I’ll ask her to teach me to do more for my- 
self. Perhaps she’ll like me better then.” 


KATHLEEN RECEIVES A SHOCK 


III 


There was a quiver in Kathleen’s voice, and 
her mother bent forward impulsively, and kissed 
the sober little face. 

“ Oh, my darling I ” was all she said, but Kath- 
leen felt suddenly that she was being understood 
as no one had ever seemed to understand her be- 
fore. 

It all seemed much like a picnic to Kathleen, 
but it was a very pleasant picnic. It was very in- 
teresting to watch her mother’s manipulations 
with the tiny gas stove, on which the eggs were 
boiled, and the coffee made, and when breakfast 
was over, she requested to be permitted to aid in 
the dish-washing, which the evening before she 
had only watched from a distance. 

“ It’s really great fun,” she announced, rubbing 
a cup so vigorously with the dish-towel that her 
cheeks tingled from exertion. “ I think I shall go 
down to the kitchen sometimes and help Ellen. 
You know it was Ellen who brought Nora into 
the house that Sunday. She never found out it 
wasn’t me. I met her on the stairs the other day, 
and she laughed, and whispered that she hoped I 
appreciated her not telling any one about my go- 
ing out alone. I never supposed any two people, 
even if they were twins, could look quite so much 
alike. Why, even Nora’s clothes fit me just as 
well as if they were made for me. I don’t like 
them much, though ; the boots are so thick, and 


II2 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


I hate darns in my stockings. Are all Nora's 
stockings darned?” 

“ I am afraid they are,” said Mrs. O'Neil, sadly. 
‘‘ I am sorry to say Nora is rather hard on her 
clothes.” 

“So am I,” said Kathleen. “Sarah says she 
never saw any one so careless about her clothes 
as I am. And just as soon as they begin to need 
mending Mrs. Anderson gives them away, and 
buys me new things. Aunt Kitty hates old 
clothes, too. Do you know Aunt Kitty ? ” 

“No, dear.” 

“ She's Daddy's sister, but she's ever so much 
younger than Daddy, and awfully pretty. She 
used to live with us, and lots of young gentlemen 
wanted to marry her. I've heard people say she 
was a great belle. She's married to Uncle 
Stephen Carew now, and they have a house on 
Seventy-second Street. Aunt Kitty and Uncle 
Stephen are going to Bermuda to-day. I wish 
they would take me with them, for Daddy is 
there, you know, and I do miss him so dread- 
fully.” 

“ You love your daddy very dearly, don't you, 
Kathleen ? ” Mrs. O'Neil said, softly. 

“ Of course I do, and he loves me, too, better 
than any one else in the world. There, I think 
that cup must be dry. Shall I put it away on the 
shelf with the others ? O dear I I've knocked 



“You LOVE YOUR DADDY VERY DEARLY, DON’T YOU, IvATHLEEN ? “ 

Page 112. 





KA THLEEN RECEIVES A SHOCK 1 1 3 

down a plate. I hope it isn^t broken. It is, 
though. Oh, Vm so sorry I ” 

“ Never mind, darling ; Til pick up the pieces. 
You might cut your fingers. Now, suppose you 
go and look at Nora’s books. You may find 
something you will enjoy reading while I make 
the beds and tidy up the studio.” 

Kathleen retired somewhat crestfallen, but she 
was destined to still further humiliation. 

“ Why, Mother,” she cried, after a short ex- 
amination of the pile of school-books on the table, 
‘‘ does Nora study algebra and Latin ? ” 

Yes, dear, she began Latin in the autumn, 
and she has just commenced algebra.” 

“ She must be very clever,” said Kathleen, re- 
flectively. “ I hate arithmetic, and I don’t know a 
word of Latin. I can speak French, though, and 
play the piano a little, too,” she added more hope- 
fully. 

“ I am so glad, dear ; I wish I could hear you 
play. Your father and I were both so fond of 
music, and he had a glorious voice.” 

Kathleen’s cheeks grew suddenly hot. 

Daddy is my father,” she said, decidedly ; ” I 
don’t want to hear about the other one.” 

She was sorry the moment the words were ut- 
tered, for the look of pain on her mother’s face 
touched a chord of sympathy, which nothing had 
ever touched before. She was not by any means 


NORA*S TIVIN SISTER 


II4 

a hard-hearted child, but it had simply never oc- 
curred to her to consider any one’s feelings but 
her own. Mrs. O’Neil said nothing, however, 
but went quietly on with her work, and Kathleen 
wisely decided that it would be better not to con- 
tinue the subject. 

“ I wish I hadn’t said that about my other 
father,” she told herself regretfully. ” I wouldn’t 
have hurt my mother’s feelings for the world, but 
of course nobody could ever take Daddy’s place. 
It’s very interesting here, and Mother is a darling, 
but I don’t think I should like to live in one room, 
and do housework all the time. I wonder how 
soon Nora will come.” 

That was a question destined to be asked many 
times during the next two hours. It was asked 
not only by Kathleen, but by Mrs. O’Neil as well, 
and as the morning wore away, and still no Nora 
appeared, the mother’s face grew very grave and 
anxious. 

“ I cannot understand it at all,” she said at last, 
when the hands of the clock pointed to half-past 
eleven, and nothing had happened. “Nora is so 
conscientious, and she knows how anxious I must 
be.” 

“ Perhaps there was something the matter with 
the car,” suggested Kathleen, “ or perhaps Sarah 
wouldn’t let her go out alone. O dear! I do 
wish she’d come I I was going to take Muriel to 


KATHLEEN RECEIVES A SHOCK 11 $ 

the theatre this afternoon, to see ‘ The Little 
Princess/ You donT suppose Nora is staying 
away on purpose, do you ? It’s very nice at my 
house, and perhaps she thinks she would like to 
stay longer.” 

“ I am quite sure Nora is doing nothing wrong,” 
said Mrs. O’Neil, and there was so much sharp- 
ness in her tone that Kathleen regarded her 
mother in astonishment. 

Why, I believe you can be cross, too,” she 
said innocently, at which remark Mrs. O’Neil 
pulled herself together with an effort and tried to 
laugh. 

” I am afraid I am a cross little mother,” she 
said, apologetically, ‘‘ but I am so worried about 
Nora. I did very wrong in consenting to the 
plan. If anything happens, it will be all my 
fault.” 

“ No, it won’t,” protested Kathleen, “ it will be 
all mine. I said I wouldn’t go, and you were 
afraid I had convulsions when I cried. I don’t 
think I ought to have said that about convulsions. 
I did have them when I was teething. Daddy says, 
but I’ve never had any since. I didn’t mean to 
frighten you, but you see, I never had a mother 
before, and it seemed as if I just couldn’t go away 
so soon.” 

There was a catch in Kathleen’s voice, which 
ended in a sob, and, with a pang of remorse, Mrs. 


Il6 NORA'S TWIN SISTER 

O’Neil gathered the little girl in her arms and 
hugged her. 

At one o’clock Kathleen announced that she 
was hungry, and her mother — who, in her grow- 
ing anxiety, had forgotten all about luncheon — 
hastened to prepare a simple meal of bread and 
milk. Kathleen was not fond of bread and milk, 
but was too polite to say so, so she swallowed the 
food in silence. Mrs. O’Neil herself was, by this 
time, far too anxious to eat a mouthful. 

Kathleen darling,” she said suddenly, ” would 
you mind very much being left alone for a little 
while ? I must go and find out what is keeping 
Nora.” 

“I won’t mind,” said Kathleen, readily. ‘‘I’m 
used to staying by myself, when Mrs. Anderson 
and Sarah are out, but don’t stay any longer than 
you can help, and be sure to bring Nora back. I 
want my own clothes, and I think I’d like to go 
home.” 

“ I will do what I can,” her mother promised, 
and five minutes later she was hurrying down- 
stairs, her heart heavy with anxiety and re- 
morse. 

It was very quiet in the studio after Mrs. O’Neil 
had gone out. Kathleen tried to read, but in a 
few minutes she threw down her book, and gave 
herself up to reflections. She wished she had not 
insisted on spending the night with her mother. 


KATHLEEN RECEIVES A SHOCK 11 / 

and changing places .with Nora. Mother was 
very sweet and dear, but she did not look happy, 
and it did seem strange what could have become 
of Nora. After all, it might have been wiser to 
have gone home, and said nothing to any one till 
Daddy came back from Bermuda. Daddy was so 
good, she was sure he would not have refused to 
let her see her own mother, when he knew how 
much they wanted each other. Dear, dear 
Daddy I how she missed him I Nobody in the 
world could ever take his place ; not even her 
newly found mother. As for that other father, 
who loved music, and had a glorious voice, she 
would not even think about him. 

Kathleen’s reflections were cut short by a knock 
at the door, and in answer to her “ Come in,” a 
girl of about her own age presented herself. The 
girl wore a red dress, and a hat of the same color, 
while a large pair of gold earrings hung from her 
ears. Kathleen stared at this unexpected intruder 
in undisguised astonishment, but the intruder her- 
self did not appear at all disturbed. 

** Hello I ” she remarked cheerfully. I met 
May Judson on the stairs, and she told me you 
were in, and your mamma was out.” 

“ How do you do ? ” said Kathleen, not know- 
ing. what else to say. “Won’t you sit down?” 
she added, with a sudden recollection of the laws 
of hospitality. 


1 1 8 NORA 'S TWIN SISTER 

The girl complied, after having first removed 
her hat and jacket. 

“ O dear ! thought Kathleen in dismay, ‘‘ she's 
going to stay, and I haven't any idea who she is, 
or what I ought to say to her. What shall I 
do ? " 

“ I guess you know what I've come to talk 
about," said the visitor, when she had established 
herself comfortably on the sofa. 

“ No, I don't," answered Kathleen, bluntly. 

The girl flushed, and bit her lip with annoy- 
ance. 

“ Oh, yes, you know all right," she said ; ** it’s 
about that composition. I think you're real mean 
about it, and so does Papa. I told him last night, 
and he says if you'll fix it so I win a prize, he'll 
let you choose anything you want in the store." 

“ What is it you want me to do ? " inquired 
Kathleen, curiously. 

Oh, don't pretend to be so silly. You know 
perfectly well. All I ask is that you'll help me 
write that horrid composition, and I really think 
you might." 

“ Oh, but I couldn't ; I couldn't really I " cried 
Kathleen, quite forgetting her character for the 
moment. “ I hate compositions." 

‘‘ You hate composition ! " repeated the visitor 
in a tone of withering scorn. That's a nice way 
to talk, isn't it ? You've written the best compo- 


KATHLEEN RECEIVES A SHOCK II9 

sition in school this year, and you know it, too. 
rd be ashamed of myself to tell such fibs. I 
shall tell Papa about you, and I guess he won’t let 
you have any presents out of his store.” 

“ I don’t want any presents out of your father’s 
old store,” cried Kathleen, indignantly. “ My 
daddy gives me all the presents I want. I can’t 
help you with your composition ; I don’t know 
how, and I wish you’d go away, and leave me 
alone.” 

At that moment the door opened for the second 
time, but without the ceremony of knocking, and 
two children — a little girl and a little boy — walked 
into the room with the air of being very much at 
home there. 

” Oh, Nora,” began the new girl, “ Jimmy and 
I came to see if we could stay with you for a 
while. Mrs. Flinn’s cleaning our flat, and she 
told us to keep out of the way. Papa and Mamma 
are at the show, and we thought perhaps you’d 
tell us stories.” 

“ Tell you stories ! ” gasped poor Kathleen, in 
growing bewilderment. ” Why, I can’t ; I never 
told anybody a story in my life. Oh, I do wish 
you’d all go away and not bother.” 

May Judson’s blue eyes opened wide in amaze- 
ment, and her brother Jimmy gave vent to his 
feelings in a long whistle, but Lina Rosenbaum 
was the most indignant of the party. 


120 


NORA'S TIVIN SISTER 


** Just listen to her 1 ” she scoffed, turning to the 
Judsons. “ That^s the way she^s been talking to 
me. She says she hates writing compositions, when 
everybody knows she just loves it. She^s the big- 
gest story-teller in New York, that’s what she is.” 

“ She is not a story-teller,” declared Jimmy, his 
little face reddening with anger. “ If you say that 
again, Lina Rosenbaum, I’ll — I’ll hit you.” 

Jimmy doubled his small little fist as he spoke, 
and shook it menacingly at Lina. Kathleen was 
conscious of a sudden little thrill of admiration. 
This was the first time in her life that she had 
ever been championed by any one. For the mo- 
ment she quite forgot that it was Nora and not 
herself for whom the boy was standing up. Lina 
turned towards the door. 

“ I’m going,” she announced, haughtily. ** I 
don’t intend to stay in a place where I’m treated 
like this. You just wait and see when I ever ask 
you to do anything for me again. Miss Nora 

O’Neil. And as for you, you two little ” 

Anger choked her, and she flounced out of the 
studio, banging the door behind her. 

Kathleen gave a sigh of relief, but her troubles 
were not yet over, for the two other visitors still 
remained standing in the middle of the room, 
staring at her in round-eyed astonishment. 

“ You didn’t really say it, did you, Nora ? ” in- 
quired May, incredulously. 


KATHLEEN RECEIVES A SHOCK 


121 


Say what ? ” faltered Kathleen. 

“ That you hated writing composition. You 
told her you wouldn’t help her write one yester- 
day, but that wasn’t the reason.” 

” I — I don’t know what I said,” stammered poor 
Kathleen. “ I didn’t tell a story, anyway, and I’m 
glad that boy said I didn’t. Oh, won’t you please 
go away ? Mother’s out, and I don’t know what 
to say to you.” 

And, to the great astonishment of the Judsons, 
the supposed Nora burst into tears. 

To have their friend in tears was more than the 
devoted Judsons could endure. They were both 
at her side in a moment, and May’s small, impet- 
uous arms were round her neck. 

”Oh, Nora dear, please don’t cry,” she im- 
plored. We won’t bother you ; we’ll go right 
away, but — but you never acted like this before. 
Are you sick ? Oh, I hope it isn’t scarlet fever. 
Mamma says scarlet fever’s much worse than 
measles.” 

“Please don’t squeeze me so tight,” expostu- 
lated Kathleen, with difficulty extricating herself 
from May’s embrace. “You’re very kind, but 
I’m afraid you don’t understand, and I can’t ex- 
plain. May be Mother’ll tell you. Oh, here she 
comes I I’m so glad. Mother, won’t you please 

explain ? They think I’m Nora, and Why, 

Mother, what is the matter ? ” 


122 


NORA^S TWIN S/SI'ER 


Mrs. O’Neil had dropped into the chair by the 
door, and was shaking from head to foot. She 
was very pale, and there was a strange, frightened 
look in her eyes. Kathleen sprang to her 
mother’s side, and caught one of the cold hands 
in hers. 

“Mother, oh. Mother dear, what is it?” she 
cried in sudden terror. “ Has something awful 
happened ? Is Nora dead ? ” 

Then Mrs. O’Neil found her voice, but it was in 
a very low, tremulous voice that she answered. 

“ No, no, darling, nothing so terrible as that, but 
I have had a great shock. They have carried 
Nora off to Bermuda. The ship sailed this morn- 
ing.” 

“ To Bermuda ! ” shrieked Kathleen, everything 
else forgotten in the shock of this news. “To 
Daddy I They took her instead of me, and she 
let them — she didn’t tell I And I wanted to go to 
Bermuda more than anything else in the world I ” 
And Kathleen cast herself upon the floor, and 
wailed as loudly as if she had been two years old 
instead of twelve. 

Mrs. O’Neil sank back in her chair, and covered 
her face with her hands. She was a rather help- 
less little woman at times, and the present crisis 
was more than she felt herself capable of meeting. 
Jimmy and May continued to stare in speechless 
amazement. It was Jimmy, however, who was 


KATHLEEN RECEIVES A SHOCK 1 23 


the first to recover from the shock. Jimmy, like 
all boys, hated scenes. 

“Get up, Nora,” he commanded, approaching 
the prostrate Kathleen; “don’t howl like that. 
You’re making an awful noise, and your mother’s 
crying, too. Oh, I say, Nora, what is it all about, 
anyhow ? ” 

Then Kathleen lifted her head, and proclaimed 
the truth to her astonished companions. 

“ I’m not Nora,” she cried, indignantly. 
“ Nora’s gone to Bermuda, to my daddy. He 
doesn’t want her ; he wants me. Oh I Oh I 
Oh I ” Another prolonged wail completed the 
sentence. 

“ You’re not Nora I ” gasped Jimmy. “ Then — 
then, who are you ? ” 

“ I’m Kathleen Crawford,” cried the little im- 
postor ; “ I’m Nora’s twin sister.” 


CHAPTER IX 


NORA GOES TO SEA 

‘‘ T MUSTN’T tell, oh, I mustn’t tell I If they 
I find out it will get Mummy into dreadful 
A trouble.” That was what Nora had been 
telling herself over and over again for the past 
five minutes, as she lay in a little disconsolate 
heap on the cabin sofa, while Mr. and Mrs. Carew 
and Sarah all seemed to be talking at once. 
They were all angry, she was sure, she could tell 
that from their voices, but how much more angry 
would they be if they knew they were carrying 
off the wrong little girl. 

In the first moment when Nora had realized 
that the ship had actually started, she had forgot- 
ten everything else, and, with a piercing scream, 
had tried to reach the door, with a wild idea of 
somehow making her way back to the shore. But 
Mr. Carew had held her fast, and, with a gentle 
shake, had laughingly told her not to be a little 
goose. She was going to her father in Bermuda ; 
it had all been planned for a wonderful surprise. 
Then suddenly, the full meaning of the situation 
124 


JVOJ^A GOES TO SEA 


125 


had burst upon Nora, and she had flung herself 
on the sofa, and cried, and cried as if her heart 
would break. 

“ You certainly are a most unaccountable child, 
Kathleen,*^ scolded Mrs. Carew. “ Here we have 
all been planning this, ever since last week, when 
your daddy’s letter came, telling us to bring you. 
We thought we were going to give you the sur- 
prise of your life, and now here you are crying as 
if something dreadful had happened. I really 
cannot understand you at all.” 

** She’s contrary,” said Sarah ; ** nobody ever 
knows what’s going to please her. Come now, 
Miss Kathleen, stop crying, and behave like a 
sensible child. If Miss Joy or Miss Gladys had 
ever had such a beautiful surprise planned for 
them, I guess they’d have known how to appreciate 
it.” 

Nora made a great effort to check her sobs. 
After all, these people meant to be kind. They 
had expected to give Kathleen a wonderful pleas- 
ure. If Kathleen had been there in her place, she 
would doubtless have been very happy. Oh, if 
she could only tell them the truth ; they might 
manage somehow to send her home, but the 
memory of her mother’s words checked the rising 
impulse, and again she repeated the old refrain : 
“ I mustn’t tell, oh, I mustn’t tell ! ” 

“ It — it was all so sudden,” she faltered, lifting 


126 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


her head from the sofa cushions, and straighten- 
ing her hat, which had fallen on one side. “ I — I 
didn’t want to go to Bermuda. I wanted to — to 
take Muriel Trevor for an automobile ride.” 

Mrs. Carew laughed in spite of her annoyance. 

“You silly child,” she said. “As if that mat- 
tered. Sarah telephoned the Trevors yesterday 
afternoon, and Muriel was told all about the sur- 
prise. She thought you would be wild with joy 
at the prospect of going to Bermuda.” 

“ But she was mistaken — you were all mis- 
taken 1 ” cried Nora, lifting her big pleading eyes 
to Mrs. Carew’s smiling face. “ I don’t want to 
go to Bermuda. I can’t possibly go ; there’s a 
reason why I can’t. Oh, please, please make them 
stop the ship for a minute. I must get off, I 
really must.” 

“ Oh, Mr. Captain, stop the ship, I want to get 
off and walk,” sang Mr. Carew, his eyes twin- 
kling with fun. “I’m sorry the grand surprise has 
turned out a failure, Kathleen, but I am afraid 
you will have to make the best of it. This boat 
won’t stop again till she gets into Bermuda har- 
bor day after to-morrow.” 

Nora sank back on the sofa with a little moan. 
She looked so frightened, and so utterly miser- 
able, that Mr. and Mrs. Carew began to feel really 
sorry for her. 

“ I am afraid the surprise was too much of a 


JVOJ^A GOES TO SEA \2J 

shock,” Mr. Carew remarked in a low tone to his 
wife. “ The poor child is quite bowled over.” 

I canT understand her at all,” said Mrs. 
Carew. “ I was sure she would be out of her 
head with joy. Come, Kathleen dear,” she 
added kindly, ‘‘ don^t look as if you had lost your 
last friend. You will spoil the whole trip for us 
all if you don’t cheer up. Let Sarah take you to 
see your cabin ; it’s just across the gangway.” 

Nora rose slowly. She was very white, and 
words still came with difficulty, but at that mo- 
ment she was making the biggest effort of her life. 

“ I’ll try not to spoil your trip,” she said, “ and 
— and I’m sorry you were disappointed, but you 
see, you don’t understand.” 

‘‘No, I certainly don’t understand,” said Mrs. 
Carew. “ Haven’t you been fretting for your 
daddy ever since he went to Bermuda, and didn’t 
you write him a letter begging him to send for 
you ? It was that letter that decided him to let 
you come with us. He told us to make all the ar- 
rangements, and not to let you know what was 
going to happen until you were actually on the 
boat. You once told him you loved surprises, 
and he wanted to give you one you would never 
forget.” 

“ And such a time as I had keeping you from 
suspecting anything,” chimed in Sarah. “ That 
was why I sent you out with Selma yesterday 


128 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


afternoon. I did most of the packing while you 
were gone, and got the trunks sent off to the ship. 
I did have a turn when I heard you tell Selma 
you wanted to put on that dress you wore at the 
birthday party, for it was down at the very bot- 
tom of that trunk.” 

Nora gave a long sigh. It was all quite plain 
and simple, of course, and if she had only been 
Kathleen, she would have been very happy, and 
very grateful to these kind friends, who had been 
planning to give her pleasure. But she was not 
Kathleen ; she was only little Nora O’Neil. 
Kathleen was at the studio with Mummy, and she 
was being rapidly carried away from home and 
friends. But whatever happened, she must not 
get Mummy into trouble ; she must keep on 
playing her part just as long as she possibly 
could. So she made no objections to being led 
away by the still indignant Sarah, to another 
cabin, very much like the one she had left, which 
Sarah told her they were to share during the 
voyage. 

I guess we’d better stay here till I get things 
straightened out a little,” remarked the maid. 
“ It’s sure to be rough as soon as we pass Sandy 
Hook, and I’m never any good after the ship 
begins to roll.” 

Nora sat down, and meekly folded her hands. 
There really didn’t seem to be anything else to 


NORA GOES TO SEA 


129 


do. She felt utterly helpless. Every moment 
was taking her farther from her mother, and yet 
she dared not utter another word of protest. 
Nora was only twelve, but she had always been 
an independent, resourceful little person, and was, 
in many ways, old for her age. She loved her 
mother with all the strength of her warm little 
Irish heart, and it seemed to her that anything — 
yes, anything in the world — would be better than 
to let Mummy suffer from any fault or mistake of 
hers. 

Sarah^s voice broke in on her reflections. 

“ I wish to goodness they^d told you all about 
it in the beginning,” grumbled Sarah. ** Fm sure 
rd have been glad enough to stay on in New 
York, for if there’s one thing I do hate more than 
all others, it’s being on a ship when it’s rough. 
And I’ve always heard this Bermuda trip was 
about the roughest there Js.” 

“ What happens when it’s rough ? ” inquired 
Nora, listlessly. She didn’t really care very much 
what did happen ; she was so utterly miserable 
already. 

“ People get seasick,” said Sarah, shortly. 

Nora asked no more questions, and in a few 
minutes Mr. Carew came to ask if she would not 
like to go on deck with her aunt, while Sarah 
finished her unpacking. 

Without a word, Nora rose and followed him. 


130 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


She had decided that the wisest plan would be to 
do exactly as she was told. Then no one could 
be angry with her, and perhaps they would leave 
her alone, and not ask embarrassing questions. 

The deck was crowded, and all the passengers 
were chatting and laughing, as if they were 
thoroughly enjoying themselves. It was a lovely 
morning, and the fresh sea air and bright sun- 
shine did much to restore Nora to herself. They 
were still going down the Bay, and as they stood 
by the railing, gazing out over the beautiful har- 
bor, Mr. Carew pointed out the different forts, and 
was so kind and pleasant that she began to lose 
some of her terror of her new surroundings. After 
all, this was a most exciting adventure, and Nora 
had never had many adventures. Mrs. Carew 
had joined some acquaintances, but in a few min- 
utes she came up to her husband and Nora, ac- 
companied by a lady and gentleman. 

“ Here are Mr. and Mrs. Starr, Stephen,” she 
said. “You remember meeting them at Bar 
Harbor last summer. Isn’t it delightful to find 
them on this boat ? ” 

Mr. Carew agreed that it was very delightful, 
and shook hands with Mr. and Mrs. Starr. Then 
Mrs. Carew turned to Nora. 

“ This is my brother's little girl,” she said ; “ we 
are taking her to join her father in Bermuda.” 

Mrs. Starr smiled kindly at Nora, and then she 


JVO/^A GOES TO SEA 131 

glanced over her shoulder, as if in search of some 
one. 

I am looking for my boy,” she said ; “ he was 
here a minute ago. Henry, dear, where do you 
suppose Reggie has gone ? ” 

“ I haven’t an idea, but he is sure to turn up all 
right,” answered her husband, laughing. “He 
can’t very well swim ashore, so I wouldn’t worry 
about him if I were you.” 

Mrs. Starr did not look altogether satisfied. 

“ We have had such a bother with Reggie,” she 
explained to Mrs. Crew. “ He simply hated to 
leave New York. I have never left him in his 
life, and I simply wouldn’t leave him this time, so 
his father and I insisted on his coming. But I am 
afraid it was very much against his will.” 

“ Not unlike my little niece,” said Mrs. Carew, 
and she launched forth on an account of the won- 
derful surprise, and its disastrous results. She had 
just concluded her story, and Mrs. Starr was re- 
marking that one never could count on what chil- 
dren would do, when they were joined by a boy 
of twelve or thirteen, whose sober, rather sullen 
expression of countenance certainly did not con- 
vey the idea that he was having a good time. 

“ Oh, here is Reggie,” exclaimed Mrs. Starr in 
a tone of relief. “ Reggie darling, here is a nice 
little girl for you to play with. What is your 
name, dear ? ” 


132 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


Nora gave a little frightened gasp. She had 
never told a lie in her life, and yet if she said that 
her name was Nora O’Neil, what would the 
Carews think? Fortunately, however, the ques- 
tion was settled for her by Mrs. Carew, who, at- 
tributing her hesitation to some new, unaccount- 
able shyness, answered promptly — 

“ Her name is Kathleen Crawford.” 

Reggie — who evidently had good manners, 
even if he did look rather sulky — stepped forward 
and held out his hand. 

‘‘ How do you do ? ” he said, frankly. ** Do 
you like going to that beastly Bermuda ? ” 

“ No, I don’t like it at all,” returned Nora, with 
equal frankness, and the two children were friends 
from that moment. 

“ Let’s go and see the pilot get off,” suggested 
Reggie, and, although he still looked rather cross, 
Nora noticed that his face had brightened percep- 
tibly. It was a rather nice face, too, she decided, 
and there was a great relief in talking to some 
one who did not know Kathleen. At least she 
could be herself with this boy, and not fear mak- 
ing mistakes. So she made no objection to ac- 
companying her new acquaintance to where quite a 
crowd had collected to see the pilot leave the ship. 

We’re at The Hook now,” Reggie explained. 

We shall be out at sea in a little while, and then 
I suppose it’ll begin to be rough.” 


JVOI^A GOES TO SEA 


133 


** Does it make you seasick when if s rough ? ” 
inquired Nora, remembering Sarah's fears on that 
subject. 

“Not a bit I never was seasick in my life, and 
neither was Father. Mother has a bad time of it, 
though. I can't see why she wanted to come.'' 
And Reggie's face clouded again at the recollec- 
tion of past troubles. 

“ I’ve never been to sea,'' said Nora. “ Does it 
hurt very much to be seasick ? " 

“ I guess not, or people wouldn’t keep on going. 
Mother’s always sick, and she's crossed the ocean 
fourteen times. I've been to Europe three times, 
and one winter we went to Egypt." 

“ How very interesting," said Nora. “ I didn't 
know Americans ever went there unless they were 
missionaries, or people like that. I thought it 
was only the people in the Bible who went to the 
Land of Egypt." 

Reggie laughed. He was beginning to find 
this new acquaintance most amusing. 

“ I suppose you're thinking of Moses and The 
Children of Israel," he said. “ They did live 
there, of course. Why, I saw the place on the 
Nile where Moses was found in the bulrushes. I 
saw the pyramids, too, and the Sphinx. A little 
English kid and I got lost on the desert once." 

“ Oh, do tell me about it ! " cried Nora, to whom 
an exciting story was as the very breath of life. 


134 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


and Reggie, nothing loath, plunged into a thrill- 
ing tale of how he and a little English girl had 
run away from their nurses, one afternoon when 
staying at a hotel close to the great pyramids, and 
gone to pay a visit to the Sphinx. They had been 
lost on their way home ; had made friends with 
some children in an Arab village, and after wan- 
dering about for several hours, and at last falling 
asleep in the sand of the desert, had been rescued 
by some Englishmen who were out on a hunting 
expedition, one of whom was the father of “ the 
English kid,” as Reggie called his little compan- 
ion. “ That was four years ago,” Reggie con- 
cluded, “ and I was only eight, but I wasn’t much 
scared, except just for a minute when I thought 
those gentlemen were Arabs, and might be going 
to shoot us.” 

“ You must be very brave,” said Nora, and 
there was so much admiration in her tone that 
Reggie— who was really quite a modest boy — 
blushed. But how can you travel so much in 
winter?” Nora added. ‘‘Don’t you go to 
school ? ” 

“ Oh, yes, but you see Mother’s always having 
nervous prostration, and whenever she feels an 
attack coming on, the doctor sends her away 
somewhere, and Father and I have to go with 
her. I rowed a lot about coming this time, but 
Mother wouldn’t hear of leaving me at home, and 


JVOJ^A GOES TO SEA 


135 


when she began having nervous attacks, Father 
said there wasn’t any help for it, and I must 
come along. The Easter holidays begin next 
Thursday, and we’re only to be away three weeks, 
so I won’t have to lose much school this trip.” 

“ Do you like school ?” Nora inquired, politely. 

“ Not much, but I like being on^? thjB baseball 
team. I only got taken on this^ierm, and I hate 
to miss the games. We play every Saturday.” 

At that moment Nora caught sight of Sarah 
bearing down upon her. 

“ I’ve been looking all over the ship for you. 
Miss Kathleen,” she said, reprovingly. “You 
mustn’t run off with strange boys ; don’t you 
know that ? ” 

“ I’m not a strange boy,” declared Reggie, in- 
dignantly, “ My mother knows her aunt. We 
came over here to see the pilot get off, and he 
hasn’t gone yet. Don’t you bother. I’ll look 
after her all right.” 

“You needn’t,” said Nora, flushing; “I can 
look after myself ; I always do.” 

“ You do, do you ? ” said Sarah. “ Well, this is 
the first time I’ve heard it. Conie right back 
with me to your uncle and aunt. They’re in their 
deck-chairs, and they’ve engaged two for us.” 

Nora would have much preferred remaining 
where she was. She liked this pleasant, frank- 
faced boy, with whom she could talk naturally. 


NORA*S TWIN SISTER 


136 

without the constant fear of making some terrible 
mistake, which would betray her as a little impos- 
tor. But she dared not disobey the stern Sarah, 
so, with a sigh of regret, she turned to follow the 
maid back to the rest of her party. 

“ What a disagreeable person,” remarked Reg- 
gie in a low voice. “ Do you have to mind her ?” 

” I don’t believe she means to be disagreeable,” 
said good-natured Nora. She’s afraid she is 
going to be seasick, and that makes her crosser 
than usual.” 

“ I know,” said Reggie, with a comprehending 
nod. “They’re apt to be like that when they 
think they’re going to be sick. Mother begins to 
get nervous the minute the ship starts, and a 
nurse I had when I was a kid always thought she 
was going to die. But see here, if she’s sick, she 
won’t be able to boss you around, and we can 
have some fun together.” 

Nora’s face brightened. 

“ Will you tell me some more of your adven- 
tures ? ” she asked, eagerly. 

Reggie said that he would, but felt obliged to 
admit that the Sphinx adventure was by far the 
most exciting experience he had ever had. By 
this time they had reached the part of the deck 
where the Carews and Starrs were settled in their 
steamer-chairs. 

For the next hour Nora was chained to Sarah’s 


NOJ^A GOES TO SEA 


137 


side. Reggie went away with his father, but did 
not ask her to accompany them, and the little girl 
spent the time trying to accustom herself to her 
strange situation. Having recovered from her 
first shock, she was beginning to find a good deal 
that was interesting in the adventure. All her life 
she had longed to travel ; to see places and people 
she had read about; and now here she was, 
actually on a ship bound for Bermuda. If it had 
not been for the thought of her mother^s anxiety, 
and the fear of not being able to ** play Kath- 
leen,’^ she felt she would be almost enjoying her- 
self. But every time she let her thoughts wander 
back to Mummy a lump would rise in her throat, 
and she would have to wink hard to keep back 
the rising tears. Everybody was kind to her, in 
an easy-going, indifferent sort of way, but, re- 
membering Kathleen’s instructions about not talk- 
ing much, she merely answered questions, and 
made no voluntary remarks. This was really 
very hard, when there were so many things she 
wanted to talk about, and she wished that Reggie 
would come back, and they could be together 
again. Reggie was the only person on board 
with whom she could be at her ease, and free 
from the dread of being found out. 

The steamer was by this time well out at sea, 
and was beginning to rock quite perceptibly. 
Nora rather enjoyed the motion, but not so her 


138 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


companions. Mrs. Carew and Mrs. Starr both 
departed for their cabins, and Sarah turned pale 
and leaned back in her chair with closed eyes. 

“ Don’t you feel well, Sarah ? ” Nora inquired, 
sympathetically. 

Sarah shook her head. 

** I’m afraid I can’t hold out much longer,” she 
said, faintly, “ but you mustn’t be left here all by 
yourself.” 

I’m not by myself,” said Nora, looking very 
much surprised at the idea. “ There are lots of 
people here. What could possibly happen to 
me ? ” 

“I don’t know. I’m sure,” admitted Sarah, “but 
it’s the looks of the thing. Your father is so 
particular.” 

“ Then I suppose I shall have to go down to 
the cabin with you,” said Nora, regretfully. “ I 
wish I could stay here, though; it’s so lovely. 
But perhaps I can help you if I go with you.” 

Sarah looked the astonishment she felt. 

“ Well, now, that’s real sweet of you,” she ex- 
claimed in a tone of such warmth that Nora won- 
dered why her perfectly natural suggestion should 
be so much appreciated. “ I don’t need any help, 
though,” she added. “ All I want is to lie down. 
I’d leave you with your uncle, but he’s gone off to 
the smoking saloon.” 

“ Here come Reggie Starr and his father,” said 


JVOI^A GOES TO SEA 


139 


Nora, eagerly ; “ perhaps they’ll let me stay with 
them.” And, somewhat to Sarah’s consternation, 
she sprang from her chair, and ran to meet the 
approaching figures. 

“ Oh, Reggie,” she cried before the maid could . 
stop her, ** Sarah’s beginning to be seasick, and 
she wants to go and lie down. She says I can’t 
stay here by myself, so, please, may I stay with 
you ?” 

“ Of course you may,” said Reggie, and Mr. 
Starr added kindly to Sarah : 

“ We will look after the little girl with pleasure 
until her uncle comes for her.” 

So the matter was settled ; Sarah took a prompt 
departure, and Nora spent a very pleasant half- 
hour with her new friend. Reggie proved a most 
interesting companion, for, delighted at finding 
such an admiring listener, he told stories of other 
voyages he had taken, and of his experiences in 
foreign lands, until Nora almost forgot that she 
was “ playing a part.” But even with Reggie 
there were embarrassing moments, as, for instance, 
when he suddenly inquired if she didn’t know the 
Campbells. 

‘‘No, I never heard of them,” answered Nora, 
innocently. 

“ Oh, don’t you ? I thought you and Marjorie 
might be friends. She and Bobby are in Ber- 
muda, and we’re going to meet them. Their 


140 N0RA*S TWIN SISTER 

unde and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Allen, took them. 
TheyVe both had diphtheria, and couldn’t go back 
to school till after Easter. Bobby and I are great 
chums.” 

Nora said nothing, and just at that moment Mr. 
Carew came to look for his supposed niece, and 
take her to luncheon. 

By this time the steamer was rolling so heavily 
that many of the passengers had retired to their 
cabins, but neither Nora nor Reggie were troubled 
by qualms of seasickness, and Nora ate such a 
hearty luncheon that Mr. Carew looked at her in 
astonishment. 

“ You are a famous little sailor, Kathleen,” he 
said, as they left the dining-saloon. “ Now what 
would you like to do next ? Shall I take you on 
deck again ? ” 

“I think Fd better go and see how Sarah is,” 
said Nora. ** Perhaps she may need me to take 
care of her.” 

Mr. Carew laughed. 

Since when have you developed a talent for 
nursing?” he inquired, but he did not seem to 
expect a reply, and Nora, fearing she had made 
another mistake, was glad to escape. 

She found Sarah very miserable indeed, and not 
only Sarah, but Mrs. Carew as well. 

” If I could only manage to get my hair down 
and my boots off,” moaned poor Aunt Kitty. “ I 


JVOI^A GOES TO SEA I4I 

almost wish I had brought Celestine, after all, 
even if she isn’t much use. The stewardess is so 
busy, there is no use in ringing for her. I have 
rung three times, and no one has answered. I 
felt so badly when I came down that I just threw 
myself on the bed, without trying to undress, and 
I am getting worse every minute.” 

“ Oh, do let me help you I ” cried Nora, and, 
without waiting for permission, she was on her 
knees, unbuttoning Mrs. Carew’s walking boots. 

Ten minutes later Aunt Kitty was comfortably 
in bed. 

” Thank you, dear,” she murmured feebly, as 
Nora bent over her to arrange the pillows. ” I 
had no idea you were such a good little nurse.” 

” I like nursing,” said Nora. “ I helped take 
care of the Judsons when they had the measles.” 

She stopped, aghast at her mistake, but Mrs. 
Carew did not appear to have noticed anything 
unusual. 

I think I’ll try to sleep for a little while,” she 
said. You had better get Sarah to take you on 
deck.” 

And Nora departed, only too thankful to have 
escaped so easily, and secretly resolving to be 
more careful of her words in future. But she was 
only twelve, after all, and mistakes were bound to 
occur. Had it not been for the fact that both Mrs. 
Carew and Sarah were far too ill to notice small 


142 


NORA'S TIVIN SISTER 


things during the next twenty-four hours, Nora 
would never have reached Bermuda without be- 
traying her identity. Mr. *Carew was kind, but 
rather absent-minded, and except at meals, he saw 
little of Nora, whose time was divided between 
ministering to his wife and Sarah, and walking 
the deck with Reggie Starr. 

She’s an awfully jolly girl,” Reggie informed 
his father that first evening. “ There isn’t a bit of 
nonsense about her. You’d never suppose she’d 
been spoiled and given in to, the way Mrs. Carew 
told Mother she had. She’s just as pleasant and 
good-natured as she can be, and not one bit stuck- 
up, or anything like that.” 

“ I never was so mistaken about a child in my 
life,” was Sarah’s inward comment, the next 
morning, when Nora stood at her bedside, with a 
cup of steaming black coffee, which she had or- 
dered from the steward. “ It just shows one 
shouldn’t judge. She’s the best-hearted little 
thing that ever lived. Even Miss Joy couldn’t 
beat her.” 

But Sarah — who did not approve of flattering 
children — kept her conviction to herself. 


CHAPTER X 


NORA ARRIVES IN BERMUDA 

I T was Monday morning, and the little 
steamer was just entering Bermuda Harbor. 
Most of the seasick passengers had recov- 
ered, and were beginning to appear on deck for 
the first time since Saturday noon. Many of the 
ladies still looked pale, for the trip had been a 
rough one, but every one was happy at the 
thought of landing. Mrs. Carew and Sarah had 
not yet appeared on deck, but Nora and Reggie 
had been up since six, and were eagerly watching 
the approaching shore. 

“ It’s the loveliest place I ever dreamed of I ” 
exclaimed Nora, with shining eyes. “ Oh, Reg- 
gie, why didn’t you tell me how beautiful it was ? ” 
“ I didn’t remember it very well,” Reggie ad- 
mitted. “ You see, I was only nine when we came 
last time. It is pretty, though, isn’t it ? Did you 
ever see such blue water ? And it’s so clear you 
can almost look down to the very bottom of the 
sea. There’s the hotel we’re going to ; that big 
one, with all the people on the piazza. Do you 
suppose your father is looking for you ? ” 

143 


144 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


Nora gave a violent start, and all the eager 
brightness faded suddenly out of her face. In her 
wonder and excitement over the beauty of Ber- 
muda Harbor she had, for the moment, quite for- 
gotten what was going to happen next. 

“I — I don’t know,” she faltered, almost in a 
whisper. 

Reggie regarded her curiously. 

“ Won’t he be glad to see you ? ” he inquired, 
bluntly. 

“ I don’t know. I wish I hadn’t come. I wish 
I could fly right back to New York this minute.” 
There was such genuine distress — not to say 
terror — in Nora’s face, that Reggie stared at her 
in amazement. 

“ Why, I thought you loved it ! ” he exclaimed. 
But before Nora could give any explanation of 
her remarkable words, they were joined by Mr. 
Carew. 

There’s your daddy on the pier, Kathleen,” he 
said. “ See ; he’s looking for us. Wave your 
handkerchief to him.” 

Nora gave a great gasp, and following the di- 
rection of Mr. Carew’s glance, she caught sight 
of a tall gentleman, standing on the end of the 
pier eagerly scanning the steamer’s passengers 
Mechanically, she took out her handkerchief and 
waved it feebly, and at the sight the gentleman’s 
face lighted up with an expression of such joyful 


NORA ARRIVES IN BERMUDA 145 

recognition that Nora’s heart gave one bound, and 
then seemed to stand quite still. 

“ He thinks I’m Kathleen,” she said to herself, 
” and he loves her ; oh, he must love her very 
much to look like that.” And all at once, the 
thing she was doing seemed a very dreadful thing 
indeed. 

“ I’m not Kathleen, I’m Nora O’Neil I ” The 
words were actually on her lips, but then, like a 
flash of lightning, came the memory of her 
mother, and she resolutely choked them back. 
What would happen if Mr. Crawford ever learned 
the truth she did not know, but it was sufficient 
that her mother had confided to her a great secret, 
the revealing of which might bring untold trouble. 
Whatever happened, she must continue to play 
her part until she was either found out, or received 
some word from Mummy. So, with a mighty 
effort, she conquered the wild impulse to run away 
and hide somewhere — anywhere so that she might 
not see that glad, loving smile on the face of 
Kathleen’s daddy — and ten minutes later she was 
following Mr. and Mrs. Carew down the gang- 
plank. 

A good many people had come down to the 
boat-landing, many of whom were greeting friends 
and relatives, who had arrived by the steamer. 
Every one was talking and laughing, and there 
was considerable confusion, but Nora scarcely 


146 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


noticed it. There was a strange roaring sound in 
her ears, and her teeth were chattering. She was 
afraid to look at the crowd of faces on the pier ; 
afraid to see again that bright, welcoming smile. 
As she stepped from the gangplank she stumbled, 
and would have fallen if some one had not caught 
her. The next moment she felt herself held in 
strong arms, while a kind, tender voice was say- 
ing— 

“Why, my little Kathleen, what is it? Are 
you ill ? Aren’t you glad to see Daddy ? ” 

And there was the kind, handsome face bend- 
ing over her, only now the look of glad expect- 
ancy had changed to one of puzzled anxiety. 

She tried to speak, but the words would not 
come, and in another second Mr. Crawford had 
set her on her feet, though he still kept a protect- 
ing arm about her, and had turned to greet Mr. 
and Mrs. Carew. 

“ What’s the matter with her ? ” he inquired 
anxiously. “ Has she been very sick ? 

“She hasn’t been sick at all,” answered Mrs. 
Carew “She’s a famous little traveler. You 

should have seen ” But Mrs. Carew did not 

complete her sentence, for her brother had already 
turned back to Nora. 

“ What is it, then, darling ? ” he asked, and 
there was so much love and anxiety in his tone 
that Nora felt the last vestige of her courage 


JVOJ^A ARRIVES IN BERMUDA I47 

ebbing away. Won’t you tell Daddy all about 
it?” 

Then Nora did what was, perhaps, under the 
circumstances, about the wisest thing she could 
have done ; she began to cry. 

“ I — I don’t think I feel very well,” she sobbed ; 
“ I think I’d like to lie down somewhere.” 

“ Poor kiddie ! ” exclaimed Mr. Crawford ; “ she 
is feeling the effects of the voyage. People do 
sometimes, when they haven’t been seasick at the 
usual time.” And, without another word, he 
lifted Nora in his arms, and strode rapidly away 
with her, in the direction of the hotel omnibus. 

Nora closed her eyes, and let her head rest 
against Mr. Crawford’s shoulder, with a feeling of 
infinite relief. For at least a few moments she 
was safe ; she would be quiet, and not try to keep 
up her part, which had suddenly become so hate- 
ful to her. She did not speak once until they had 
reached the hotel bedroom, where Mr. Crawford 
gently deposited her on a sofa. 

“ She will be all right in a little while,” she 
heard some one say. “ People are often seized 
with a sudden giddiness after a rough voyage. 
Just lie still for a little while, Kathleen dear, and 
you will be as well as ever in half an hour. 
Daddy will be back in a few minutes ; he is only 
going to speak to Aunt Kitty and Uncle Stephen.” 

Nora felt a kiss on her forehead, and then the 


148 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


door closed, and she was alone with Sarah, who 
was bustling about, unpacking the suit cases. 

‘‘Now you just smell these salts. Miss Kath- 
leen,” commanded Sarah, approaching the sofa 
with a small bottle, which she promptly applied 
to Nora^s nose. Nora coughed, gasped, and sat 
up. 

“ I don't like it ; please take it away,” she 
pleaded. ” If s horrid stuff ; it makes my eyes 
sting.” 

Sarah laughed, and withdrew the smelling salts 
to a safer distance. 

“ Of course it stings,” she said ; “ thaf s what 
does you good. How do you feel now ? ” 

Nora would have liked to say that she was very 
ill indeed, but truth compelled her to admit that 
she felt decidedly better. 

“I thought so,” said Sarah. “Better keep 
quiet a little longer, though. My goodness I 
what a blessing it is to feel the solid earth under 
one’s feet again. Well, we’re here, and I suppose 
everybody’s satisfied, though I must say I don’t 
think very much of this surprise business myself.” 

“I don’t either,” agreed Nora, in a tone of 
heartfelt conviction. “Did they think Kath — I 
mean I was going to like it ? ” 

“ Of course they did ; they thought you’d be 
wild with joy. I must say I thought the same at 
first, but we were all mistaken. That’s one of the 


JVOJ^A ARRIVES IN BERMUDA I49 

troubles with spoilt children ; nobody ever knows 
what’s going to please them.” 

“ Am 1“ — do you think I am a spoilt child ? ” 
Nora asked, curiously. 

Sarah laughed again. 

“ Well, what do you think about it yourself ? ” 
she said. ‘‘I won’t say a word, for you really 
have been as good as gold ever since we left New 
York You didn’t like the surprise, but you didn’t 
make half the fuss I expected you would. What 
beats me is why you always pretended you 
couldn’t do a thing for yourself. I didn’t suppose 
you could even put on your own shoes and stock- 
ings.” 

Nora did not answer, but her cheeks grew sud- 
denly crimson, and she turned her face to the wall. 
There was a short silence, which Sarah was the 
first to break. 

“There’s one thing. Miss Kathleen,” she said, 
“ and that is we’re here for the next three weeks, 
and you might just as well make the best of it, 
and try to have a good time. It’s a beautiful 
place, anyhow, and your papa planned the sur- 
prise because he thought it was going to give you 
pleasure. It would be a pity to disappoint him 
now, wouldn’t it ? ” 

Nora thought of the kind face that had bent 
over her so tenderly, and her conscience smote 
her. After all, if she had to continue to be Kath- 


150 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


leen, there was no reason why Kathleen^s father 
should be made unhappy. Perhaps he loved his 
little girl just as much as her mother loved her. 
Suppose Mummy had planned a wonderful sur- 
prise for her pleasure, and she had not liked it at 
all. What a disappointment it would have been. 

“ I shall have to pretend Pm enjoying myself,” 
she reflected. “ I guess it will be about the hard- 
est thing I ever had to do in my life. Oh, I do 
hope Mummy isn’t worrying very much about me, 
and that she and Kathleen are happy together. 
When we get back home, and have changed 
places again, Mr. Crawford mustn’t think Kath- 
leen was ungrateful and horrid.” 

So, when Mr. Crawford returned a few minutes 
later to inquire for his little daughter, Nora was 
able to force a faint smile, and to assure him, in a 
rather tremulous voice, that she was “ ever so 
much better.” But, although somewhat relieved 
by this assurance, Mr. Crawford did not look 
altogether satisfied. Nora felt his keen glance 
searching her face anxiously, and her heart began 
to beat fast with sudden apprehension. What if 
Kathleen’s father were to discover that she was 
only a little impostor I 

“ I’m sorry I was so silly,” she said, humbly, as 
Mr. Crawford sat down beside her on the sofa. 
“ I didn’t mean to be ungrateful, but you see, it 
was such a very sudden surprise. I thought — I 


A^OT^A ARRIVES IN BERMUDA 151 

thought — oh, please don’t be unhappy about it 1 ” 
And Nora’s tears burst forth afresh. 

“ My dear child, I am not unhappy about any- 
thing. Whatever put that idea into your head ? 
Mr. Crawford’s tone was very kind, but he was 
looking more puzzled and worried than ever. “ I 
thought you would enjoy the surprise, but I am 
afraid we all made a big mistake. Aunt Kitty 
tells me you were quite upset when you found you 
were on your way to Bermuda.” 

“ Oh, I’m so sorry, so very sorry I ” sobbed 
Nora. “ Please forgive me, and I’ll try to enjoy 
myself, indeed I will ! ” 

“ There, there, don’t cry, pussy,” soothed Mr. 
Crawford, kissing her. “ You are tired and nerv- 
ous, that is all. Mrs. Anderson wrote me you 
were not well, and that was one reason why I sent 
for you, but you are going to be all right soon, 
and you have no idea what delightful times we are 
going to have. Your friends, the Campbells, are 
here, and crazy to see you. Now suppose you 
come with me for a little walk while Sarah un- 
packs. The air will do you good, I am sure.” 

Nora rose obediently. She felt as though a 
weight had been lifted from her shoulders. 
Puzzled as he was, it was evident that Mr. Craw- 
ford did not suspect the truth, and, after all, there 
was something very attractive in the prospect of 
taking a walk in Bermuda.^ 


152 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


** I should love to go” she said, and five min- 
utes later she and her tall companion had started 
on what proved to be by far the most interesting 
walk Nora had ever taken in her life. 

It was a very different child who came bound- 
ing into the hotel bedroom an hour or so later. 
There was a bright, excited color in her cheeks, 
and her eyes were shining as Sarah had never seen 
them shine before. 

** It’s the most beautiful place in the world 1 ” 
she announced, breathlessly. “ I didn’t suppose 
there was any place quite so beautiful except 
Heaven. The water, and the sky, and the flow- 
ers I You never saw such flowers. There are 
lilies, beautiful Easter lilies, growing right out in 
people’s gardens. Oh, Sarah, never mind about 
that old trunk. Come out and see it all.” 

“ I’ll go for a little walk this afternoon,” said 
Sarah, calmly. “ I’ve seen pretty places before. 
I went to Florida with one family I lived with, and 
to California with another.” 

“ I don’t believe any other place could possibly 
be so beautiful as this,” declared Nora. ” If only 
Mother could see it I ” 

Sarah was quite touched. 

“Your mamma is in a much more beautiful 
place. I’m sure, dear,” she said, kindly, at which 
well-meant remark Nora suddenly recollected her- 
self, and blushed scarlet. 


NORA ARRIVES IN BERMUDA 


153 


By way of changing the subject, she approached 
the bed, on which Sarah had spread a number of 
garments from the trunk she was unpacking. 

“ Oh, what a lovely dress I ” she exclaimed in- 
voluntarily. “ Am I really to wear it ? ” 

Sarah paused in her work, and stared at her 
charge in amazement. 

“ What ever are you talking about ? ** she de- 
manded, sharply. “As if you hadn’t worn that 
dress to dancing-school at least a dozen times ! ” 

“ I — I didn’t think what I was saying,” stam- 
mered Nora, and then she went over to the win- 
dow, and stood with her back to the astonished 
Sarah, hoping that the fresh sea-breeze would 
cool her burning cheeks. 

“ Oh, what shall I do ? ” she asked herself de- 
spairingly. “ I keep forgetting, and saying 
things I shouldn’t, every minute. If I keep on at 
this rate they’ll find out long before we get back 
to New York. I’ve got to keep remembering I’m 
Kathleen, not Nora, and it’s terribly hard work. 
I wish I knew a little more about the things Kath- 
leen likes to do. It would be dreadful if I said I 
loved something that they all knew she hated. I 
guess the best way will be not to say any more 
than I can help about things. When Father was 
acting Mummy says he forgot everything else ex- 
cept his part. I’m not an actress, but I hope I 
can be one when I grow up, and if I play this part 


154 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


well, perhaps it will be a help to play real ones 
some day. It’s going to be terribly hard, and I 
know I could never possibly keep it up if it wasn’t 
for Mummy’s sake.” 

At that very moment, Mr. Crawford was saying 
to his sister, Mrs. Carew — 

** She looks well, I admit, rather better than I 
expected from Mrs. Anderson’s letter, but there is 
something seriously wrong with the child. I 
haven’t yet found out what it is, but I shall watch 
her closely, and if she hasn’t improved decidedly 
within the next two or three days, I shall consult 
a doctor about her. Her expression puzzles me.” 

Mrs. Carew smiled good-naturedly. 

“ My dear Duncan,” she protested, “ you really 
are absurd about that child. I assure you she is 
perfectly well, and has never behaved better in 
her life than she has done since she recovered from 
the first shock of your grand surprise. I really 
don’t see why you worry so much over trifles.” 

“ Kathleen is the dearest thing I have in this 
world,” answered her brother, gravely. ** It is 
only natural that I should be anxious about her 
when I feel sure there is something seriously 
wrong. ” 


CHAPTER XI 


NORA BECOMES INVOLVED IN DIFFICULTY 

L uncheon was over — a wonderful lunch- 
eon, at which Nora had been treated to so 
many strange, new dishes, that she began 
to feel more strongly than ever that she must be 
living in a fairy tale. She had never before even 
known of the existence of such things as “ lobster 
a la Newburg,*^ chicken k la king,” and “ peach 
Melba.” And now they had gone out on the 
piazza, where many of the hotel guests had al- 
ready assembled, to listen to the orchestra, and 
bask in the soft sea-breeze and glorious sunshine. 
Nora was enjoying herself as she would not have 
believed possible a few hours earlier. She stood 
by the piazza railing, letting the wind blow her 
curls about her face, and listening to the gay 
march, with which the musicians had begun their 
afternoon concert. Mr. Crawford and the Carews 
were chatting with friends. Nora was just begin- 
ning to wonder what had become of Reggie Starr, 
when she caught sight of him approaching in her 
direction, accompanied by another boy of about 
his own age and a girl possibly a year or two 
155 


156 


NORA*S TWIN SISTER 


older. All three were talking excitedly, and Nora 
had an uncomfortable conviction that she, herself, 
was the subject of their conversation. She gave 
Reggie a welcoming smile, but to her surprise it 
was not he but the strange girl who was the first 
to address her. 

‘‘Kathleen Crawford,*^ she began, pausing in 
front of Nora, and regarding her with flashing 
eyes, “ I want to know something I Did you tell 
Reggie Starr on the ship that you didn^t know 
Bobby and me ? 

She was a tall girl, and there was such a de- 
termined, masterful way about her, that Nora in- 
stinctively shrank back against the railing. 

“ I don^t know ; I — I don’t think I did,” she fal- 
tered. 

The girl turned indignantly to Reggie, who was 
looking red and uncomfortable. 

“What did she tell you, Reggie?” she de- 
manded, sternly. “You asked her if she knew 
us, and what did she say ? ” 

Reggie did not answer, but moved uncomfort- 
ably from one foot to the other, and glanced help- 
lessly at Nora. 

“Oh, shut up, Marjorie!” protested the other 
boy, who was evidently Marjorie’s brother. 
“ What’s the use of making a roW about nothing ? ” 

“ It isn’t nothing,” maintained Marjorie, her 
voice beginning to tremble. “ Would you think 


NORA BECOMES INVOLVED IN DIFFICULTY 1 5 / 

it was nothing if somebody who was your best 
friend only a month ago told another person she 
didn’t know you ? ” 

“ Oh,” cried Nora in genuine distress, ‘‘ I’m so 
very sorry. Did you really think — I mean am I 
really your best friend ? ” 

Marjorie turned away, in wrath almost too great 
for words. 

“ Come, Bobby,” she commanded ; “ we don’t 
want to talk to people who don’t want to know 
us.” And she flounced away, followed by her 
brother. But Reggie remained standing by Nora’s 
side. 

“ I say I ” he burst out indignantly, ** what made 
you tell me you didn’t know the Campbells ? I 
didn’t mean to get anybody into trouble, but I 
was talking about you, and Marjorie said you 
were her best friend, and I was so surprised that, 
before I thought. I’d blurted out what you said 
about not knowing them. I’m awfully sorry.” 

Nora clasped her hands. 

‘‘ I know it sounds dreadfully queer,” she said, 
but you don’t understand, and I can’t possibly 
explain. I don’t wonder that girl thought I was 
horrid.” 

“ Well, it was all your own fault, if she did,” 
said Reggie, bluntly. ‘‘ I suppose you’ve had a 
row, and didn’t want to know her any more, but 
you needn’t have told a fib about it.” 


158 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


** I didn’t I ” cried Nora, her quick, Irish temper 
rising at the accusation. ** I never tell fibs. I 
wouldn’t do such a thing.” 

“ I don’t know what you call the thing you said, 
then,” maintained Reggie, whose temper was as 
quick as Nora’s. ‘‘ You told me you didn’t know 
the Campbells, and Marjorie Campbell says you 
were her best friend only a month ago. Maybe 
you call it just imagination, but it’s ” 

Reggie did not finish his sentence, for, with a 
stifled sob, Nora had turned and fled. 

She hurried on, blindly, through the open door, 
along the hotel corridor, scarcely noticing in which 
direction she was going, until she nearly collided 
with a lady and gentleman, who had just come 
out from one of the card rooms. 

“ Hello ! ” exclaimed the gentleman, laughing ; 
“ why in such haste, young lady ? By Jove, I be- 
lieve it’s the little Crawford girl, isn’t it, Ruth ? ” 

“To be sure it is,” said the lady. “ Don’t you 
remember us, dear? Marjorie Campbell’s uncle 
and aunt. You came with Marjorie to have tea 
in our studio one day last winter.” 

“ Did I?” gasped Nora. “ At least I mean — I 

mean ” She paused in such evident distress 

that her new acquaintances both felt rather sorry 
for her. 

“ Never mind, dear,” said the lady, kindly. “ I 
suppose you go to so many places, and meet so 


NORA BECOMES INVOLVED IN DIFFICULTY 1 59 

many people, that it isn’t easy to remember every- 
body. We heard from your father that you were 
expected, and Marjorie has been so happy at the 
thought of having you here. Have you seen her 
yet ? ” 

“Yes,” said Nora, in a very low voice, and then 
she added desperately — “ Will you please excuse 
me ? I want to go to my room, but I don’t know 
where it is.” 

“What is your number?” Mrs. Allen asked, but 
Nora — who had not noticed the number on the 
door — could not tell her. 

“ Then I am afraid we shall have to go to the 
office to inquire,” Mrs. Allen said, and she was so 
kind that Nora did not like to object. She was 
longing for solitude, but solitude was not to be 
had just then, for on their way to the office they 
met Mr. Crawford, who was coming to look for her. 

“ Where have you been, Kathleen ? ” he asked, 
when he had greeted Mr. and Mrs. Allen. “ I 
thought I saw you talking to Marjorie Campbell 
on the piazza.” 

“ I wanted to find my room,” Nora explained, 
humbly, “ but I didn’t know where it was, and the 
lady said it had a number.” 

Mr. Crawford looked very much surprised. 

“ Of course the rooms are numbered,” he said. 
“Surely a little girl who has been in as many 
hotels as you have cannot have forgotten that.” 


l6o NORA^S TWIN SISTER 

Nora said nothing. Until that day she had 
never been inside of a large hotel in her life, but 
how could she explain that to Kathleen’s father ? 
Mr. Crawford, however, did not appear to expect 
an explanation, or, if he did, he said nothing about 
it, but he led the way back along the corridor, 
to the room where Nora had left Sarah before 
luncheon. 

“ I have ordered a boat for four o’clock,” he 
said, pausing outside the door. “ It is just three 
now. Will you stay here with Sarah until I come 
for you ? I think a little rest will do you good.” 

“ Yes, I’d like to rest,” said Nora, eagerly. “ I 
hope Sarah has gone out, though. She said she 
might go for a walk this afternoon. I think I 
should like to be alone by myself for a little 
while.” 

Mr. Crawford looked at her long and earnestly. 
Then he took her hand, and laid his finger gently 
on her pulse. 

“ I am afraid you are feverish, Kathleen,” he 
said, anxiously. “ Are you sure your head doesn’t 
ache?” 

Oh, no, not a bit ; I feel very well indeed ! ” 
declared Nora. ‘U’m always well, you know. I 
was never ill except when I had the measles.” 

‘‘ And bronchitis, and malaria, and a few other 
things,” said Mr. Crawford, smiling. I am 
afraid you are not quite as well as you want me 


JVO/^A BECOMES IN VOL VED IN DIFFICUL TV l6l 

to think, little girl. Your pulse is too quick, and 
your cheeks are flushed, but perhaps if you rest 
for an hour, you will be all right. If Sarah has 
gone out, and you want anything, you must ring 
for the chambermaid.” And with these words, 
and a promise to return in an hour, Mr. Crawford 
left her, and went back to the piazza, where he sat 
for the next twenty minutes, trying to fix his at- 
tention on the news in the New York Times^ 
which had arrived by the steamer that morning, 
but with thoughts far away from the printed page 
before his eyes. 

Sarah had evidently carried out her intention 
of going for a walk, for the room was empty, and, 
with a sigh of relief, Nora closed the door, threw 
herself into the nearest chair, and clasped her 
forehead in both hands. 

“ It’s perfectly awful,” she said to herself. ** I 
don’t believe any other girl was ever in quite such 
a dreadful scrape before. I shall never be able to 
keep on playing a part for three whole weeks ; 
even Father didn’t have to do that. At least a real 
actor has some time when he can just be himself. 
But I’ve got to try just as hard as ever I can, 
for Mummy’s sake.” 

The thought of her mother recalled another 
thought ; there was something she must do at 
once. She had heard some one say that the 
steamer would leave for New York on Wednes- 


i 62 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


day morning. It would carry the mail, of course, 
and she must somehow manage to get a letter to 
her mother. If Mummy did not know where she 
was, or what had happened, how terribly frightened 
she must be. She reflected, however, that this 
was scarcely likely, for when she had failed to ap- 
pear at the studio on Saturday, it was only 
natural to suppose that Mummy had made some 
effort to find out what had detained her, and if 
she or Kathleen went to the Crawfords, the whole 
situation would have been quickly explained. 
She hoped Kathleen would not be very angry, 
and, oh, above all things, she hoped and prayed 
that her twin sister would be willing to stay at the 
studio until she could get back to New York and 
change places. But even if her mother knew 
where she had gone, she would still be very 
anxious; of that Nora felt sure. The only pos- 
sible way of relieving their anxiety was to send a 
letter as quickly as possible. She glanced about 
the room ; saw with relief that there were writing 
materials on the table, and two minutes later, she 
was writing away as if her very life depended 
on it. 

** Darling Mummy : 

‘'I have only got such a little while to 
write, and there is so much to tell you. I am in 
Bermuda at The Princess Hotel, and everybody 
thinks I am Kathleen. I suppose you have heard 


JVORA BECOMES mVOLVED IN DIFFICULTY 163 

how they carried me off on the ship, before I knew 
anything was going to happen. It was to have 
been a great surprise for Kathleen, and perhaps 
she would have liked it, but I was never so fright- 
ened in my life, and I don't think I have quite 
left off being frightened even yet. 

Every one is very kind, and tell Kathleen I 
don’t wonder she loves her daddy. I am sure I 
should love him, too, if I wasn’t so terribly afraid 
of his finding out. Oh, Mummy, it is terribly, 
terribly hard to keep people from finding out I am 
not Kathleen, and I keep making mistakes all the 
time. A boy on the ship asked me if I knew some 
people named Campbell, and I said ‘ No ’ because 
of course I didn’t, but it seems I ought to have 
said * Yes ’ because they are great friends of Kath- 
leen’s, and the girl is very angry with me. Of 
course I can’t explain, and I am afraid it is going 
to be very disagreeable. 

“ There are so many puzzling things that I wish 
I could talk to you about. It seems so wicked 
and deceitful to call Mr. Crawford ‘ Daddy,’ as 
Kathleen does, but if I didn’t he would think it so 
queer, and perhaps his feelings would be hurt. I 
try to keep thinking of Father, and of how you said 
he used to live in his parts. I am trying to live 
in my part, but it is much harder work than I ever 
supposed anything could be. I am going to keep 
on trying just as hard as I can, though, only we 
are not to go home for three weeks, and that does 
seem a terribly long time to be another person in- 
stead of yourself. The minute I get back to 
New York I shall manage to slip away somehow, 
and, oh, how happy I shall be to see you, and to 


164 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


change back into your own Nora again. I used 
to think it would be so wonderful to be rich, and 
have lovely clothes, but it isn’t. If I could only 
be safe at home with you again this minute, I 
wouldn’t care one bit how shabby my dresses 
were. It’s so worrying to have a secret that you 
mustn’t tell any one, and to be afraid all the time 
that you’re going to be found out. 

“ I hope you and Kathleen are very happy to- 
gether. I know Kathleen is ; she couldn’t help 
it, being with you. Please don’t worry any more 
about me than you can help, for I am perfectly 
well, and it is very beautiful here. I would like to 
write you all about it, but I am afraid Sarah will 
come in and ask questions, so I guess I had bet- 
ter stop. The steamer is going back to New 
York on Wednesday, and this is Monday after- 
noon. I will post this letter just as soon as I can 
do it without any one’s seeing me. 

“ With all the love I have in my heart, and ten 
thousand kisses, I am, 

“Your Own Nora O’Neil. 

“ P. S. Tell Kathleen I will be very careful 
with all her things, and try not to make any more 
mistakes than I can possibly help. I am glad you 
have her for a little while ; it seems only fair, but 
I am afraid it will be very hard for her to have to 
give you up, and go back to Mr. Crawford, for, al- 
though he is very nice indeed, of course there is 
nobody in the world half as dear and precious as 
you.’ 

Nora folded her letter, and, having sealed and 


NOI^A BECOMES INVOLVED IN DIFFICULTY 165 

directed the envelope, began a hasty search for a 
postage stamp. But alas! no stamps were in- 
cluded in the hotel supply of writing materials, 
and she suddenly remembered, with a pang of 
dismay, that she did not possess a single penny 
with which to buy one. This was a new and un- 
looked-for difficulty. If she asked Mr. Crawford 
or Sarah to post her letter, they would naturally 
notice the address, and ask awkward questions. 
To ask Kathleen’s daddy for money appeared an 
equal impossibility. Her proud, independent 
little mother had impressed upon her that to ac- 
cept money from a stranger — even the smallest 
sum — was a thing never to be thought of for a 
moment. Of course Mr. Crawford was not e3^- 
actly a stranger, and the circumstances were cer- 
tainly unusual, but still 

She was pondering this question when the open- 
ing of the door caused her to hastily slip the letter 
into her pocket. 

Ready, Kathleen ? ” said Mr. Crawford’s pleas- 
ant voice, and his keen, kind eyes scanned Nora’s 
flushed face anxiously. 

“ Oh, yes, thank you. I’m quite ready. I’ll get 
my hat.” And Nora flew to the closet, where she 
was rather startled by the number of hats which 
met her view. Sarah had finished her unpacking 
before going out, and the closet was full of pretty 
clothes. 


i66 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


“I wonder which hat I’d better put on,” said 
Nora, pausing in uncertainty before the well-filled 
shelf. 

It doesn’t matter ; wear any one you like,” 
Mr. Crawford answered absently. “ You are sure 
you feel better, Kathleen ? ” 

Nora assured him that she felt quite well, and 
having decided upon a jaunty shade hat, which 
struck her as particularly “ stylish,” she followed 
Mr. Crawford out into the corridor. 

“The Campbells are coming with us,” Mr. 
Crawford said, cheerfully. “ Aunt Kitty is tired, 
and Uncle Stephen has letters to write, so I asked 
Mr. and Mrs. Allen and the two Campbells to 
join our party. Marjorie didn’t seem very keen 
about going at first, but her aunt persuaded her. 
What’s the trouble, Kathleen ? Have you and 
Marjorie been quarreling again ? ” 

“ Oh, I’m so very sorry about it,” said poor 
Nora, the tears starting to her eyes. “ It isn’t her 
fault. She’s angry about something I said to 
Reggie Starr on the ship. I didn’t mean to be 
horrid, but she doesn’t understand. Do you 
think I could make it all right if I apologized ? ” 
Mr. Crawford looked both surprised and 
pleased. 

“ I am sure you could,” he said, heartily. 
“ Marjorie is very fond of you, notwithstanding 
your many disagreements, and you have no idea 


JVOJ^A BECOMES INVOLVED IN DIFFICULTY 167 

how much pleased she was when she heard you 
were coming to Bermuda." 

Nora^s heart was beating very fast when they 
reached the piazza, where Mr. and Mrs. Camp- 
bell, and their nephew and niece, were waiting for 
them. Marjorie still looked very much aggrieved, 
and greeted her supposed friend with an air of 
haughty indifference. With a desperate determi- 
nation to do her best to make amends for her un- 
intentional slight, Nora walked straight up to the 
injured one, and held out a trembling hand. 

“ Tm dreadfully sorry about — about what I said 
to Reggie Starr," she began, humbly. “ Will you 
please forgive me ? " 

Marjorie Campbell's blue eyes opened wide in 
astonishment. Never before, in all their many 
quarrels, had Kathleen been known to offer an 
apology, or even to admit having been in the 
wrong. 

“ I suppose I shall have to forgive you," she 
said rather grudgingly. “ I can't see what in the 
world ever made you say it, though. It was a 
fib, you know, an awful fib, and even if I forgive 
you, I don't see how I can ever forget." 

At the mention of the word “ fib," Nora had 
flushed indignantly, but before she could speak, 
Mr. Crawford — who had been watching the little 
scene with considerable interest — hastened to in- 
terpose, 


i68 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


Come along, children,” he called pleasantly ; 
‘‘this way for the glass-bottomed boats. You 
must keep your eyes wide open this afternoon, 
Kathleen, for you are going to see some very 
interesting things.” 


CHAPTER XII 


REGGIE POSTS A LETTER 

T REALLY think Bermuda is a rather jolly 
I place, after all/’ Reggie Starr spoke in a 
tone of satisfaction, as he stretched himself 
comfortably on the warm sand of the South Beach, 
and gazed lazily out over the blue, blue water, 

“It is pretty nice,” Bobby Campbell admitted, 
“ especially the donkeys and the swimming. The 
glass-bottomed boats are rather fun, too, but still, I 
like the Adirondacks better, don’t you, Kathleen ? ” 
It was Tuesday afternoon, and the two Campbells, 
Reggie and Nora, had all come over to South 
Beach, chaperoned by Sarah, and Marie, the nurse 
of Mrs. Allen’s two-year-old baby, who was also of 
the party. Three donkey carts had been secured 
for the occasion, and the ride to the beach had been 
a very pleasant one. And now they were com- 
fortably established on the sand, the donkeys hav- 
ing been tied in the shade to await their return, 
while the drivers, three small Bermudian boys, 
went for a swim. At Bobby’s question, Nora 
looked up with a start from the sand fort she was 
building for the small Percy Allen, who had taken 
a sudden and violent fancy to “ Tathleen.” 

169 


170 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


“ I don’t believe any place in the world can be 
nicer than this,” she said, guardedly. I never 
supposed anything could be quite so clear and 
blue as that water, and there are so many interest- 
ing things to do here.” 

“I like the Adirondacks best, though,” main- 
tained Bobby. “ Don’t you remember what fun 
we had that time Marjorie and I came to stay 
with you at Big Moose?” 

“ Don’t talk to me just now,” said Nora, hoping 
that nobody would notice her heightened color. 
“ Percy and I are very busy ; aren’t we, Percy ? ” 
Es, us is,” responded Percy, who was an 
adorable baby, and a great pet with both his 
cousins. “Don’t ’sturb us, Bobby; Tathleen’s 
’musin’ me.” 

Bobby laughed, and threw a handful of sand at 
his small cousin, but in a minute he went on with 
his reminiscences, though this time not directly 
addressing Nora. 

“We did have fun that time at Big Moose. I 
sha’n’t forget the day I caught that five-pound 
trout, or the time Kathleen went out in the canoe 
by herself, and it tipped over. It was a lucky 
thing she could swim.” 

“ Kathleen can’t swim,” said Reggie, pausing 
in the act of making a comfortable sand pillow for 
himself. “ She told me so on the boat.” 

“ Can’t swim ! ” cried Bobby, incredulously. 


REGGIE POSTS A LETTER 171 

“ Why, she swims like a fish. I never knew but 
one other girl who could swim as well as Kath- 
leen, and she went out too far one day, and nearly 
got drowned.” 

Reggie cast a puzzled glance from Bobby to 
Nora, who was, to all appearances, completely 
absorbed in her sand fort. Marjorie — who was 
still feeling rather resentful, notwithstanding the 
olive branch — tossed her head, and remarked 
sarcastically — 

“ Seems to me Kathleen told a good many 
fairy-tales on the boat. Perhaps she was seasick, 
and it made her delirious.” 

Reggie reddened. He liked the supposed 
Kathleen much better than he did Marjorie, and 
he had no intention of getting his new friend into 
any further trouble if he could prevent it. 

“ Maybe I was mistaken,” he said, carelessly. 
“ Perhaps she said she couldn^t swim. Wait a 
minute, Kathleen ; I’m coming to help with that 
fort.” 

Nora said nothing, but the look she gave 
Reggie was a very grateful one. She had been 
in Bermuda for nearly two days, and it seemed to 
her as though her difficulties increased with every 
hour. So far she had succeeded in keeping her 
secret, but she was in constant terror lest some 
chance word or act might betray her, and the 
nervous strain was beginning to tell on her. More 


172 NORA'S TWIN SISTER 

than once she had caught Mr. Crawford^s eyes 
fixed upon her with such a startled, troubled look 
in them, that she felt sure she must have said or 
done something which had struck him as strange 
or unusual. They had gone for a long drive that 
morning, and she had scarcely dared open her 
lips, for fear of making some mistake. Twice 
Mr. Crawford had asked her if she did not feel 
well, and she had seen him talking very earnestly 
with Mrs. Carew after luncheon, and felt an un- 
comfortable conviction that she had been the sub- 
ject of conversation. She had hailed the prospect 
of going with Reggie and the Campbells to the 
beach as a great relief. At least for a couple of 
hours, she would be free from the watchful anx- 
iety of Kathleen^s daddy. But this respite had its 
limitations, for even with the Campbells she must 
be very careful. 

But chief of all Nora^s worries was the fact that 
she had not yet been able to procure the necessary 
postage stamp for her mother’s letter. She was 
still carrying it in her pocket, and it was already 
Tuesday afternoon. So it was only natural that 
her thoughts should wander more than once from 
little Percy’s sand fort, and that Bobby’s remark 
about Kathleen’s swimming should have added 
another to her many causes for anxiety. 

When the fort was completed, and Reggie and 
Bobby had joined in a romp with the baby, in 


REGGIE POSTS A LETTER 173 

response to that young man's peremptory demand 
— Marjorie, who considered herself too old for 
romps, had closed her eyes and pretended to be 
asleep. Nora strolled slowly away from the others, 
and began idly picking up shells. The shells 
were very pretty, but Nora scarcely noticed them. 
She was wondering what Mummy and Kathleen 
were doing at this very moment But she had not 
gone far when she was recalled to her present 
surroundings by the voice of the faithful Sarah. 

“ Where are you going. Miss Kathleen ? ” 

‘‘ Nowhere in particular,” said Nora, coming to 
a sudden halt. “ I thought I would just take a 
little walk. I won’t go far.” 

” Come right back and sit down,” commanded 
Sarah. ** Your papa told me not to let you out of 
my sight. I can’t tramp in this sand ; it tires my 
feet, and you can just as well stay here with Miss 
Marjorie.” 

With a sigh, Nora returned to her seat, her 
hands full of the shells she had gathered. Mar- 
jorie yawned and opened her eyes. 

” Oh, what lovely shells ! ” she exclaimed, ad- 
miringly, as Nora spread out her treasures on the 
sand. ” I’d like to gather some, too, but it’s too 
hot to move.” 

” Would you like these ? ” inquired Nora, ea- 
gerly. ” If you would I’ll sell them to you — I’ll 
sell them for five cents.” 


174 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


Mar j oriels eyes grew round with astonishment. 

“ Sell them 1 ” she repeated incredulously ; “ sell 
those old shells I Kathleen Crawford, I really 
think you must be crazy. What in the world do 
you want to sell anything for ?” 

‘‘ Why, because I want the money, of course,’’ 
faltered Nora, blushing. “ There isn’t any harm in 
selling things, is there ? I only want five cents.” 

Marjorie burst into a peal of such genuine 
laughter that both the boys paused in their storm- 
ing of the sand fort to inquire what was so funny. 

‘‘ It’s Kathleen,” said Marjorie ; “ she wants to 
sell her shells for five cents, and she has a bigger 
allowance than all the rest of us put together.” 

‘‘I haven’t,” protested Nora; “at least — at 
least I mean I haven’t any money to-day, and I 
want five cents very much indeed. I don’t like to 
borrow money, but I thought perhaps I could 
sell ” 

“ Oh, don’t be a goose, Kathleen,” interrupted 
Marjorie, impatiently. “ You always were a queer 
girl in some ways, but you’ve been positively 
weird since you came down here. If you want 
five cents why in the world don’t you ask your 
father for it ? You never had any trouble about 
asking him for things before.” 

“Then you won’t buy the shells?” said Nora, 
with a catch in her voice. 

“ Of course I won’t ; I never heard of anything 


REGGIE POSTS A LETTER 175 

quite so silly. I don^t want your old shells ; I can 
get plenty for myself.” 

There were tears in Nora’s eyes, but she said 
nothing, and sat gazing down at the little pile of 
shells in her lap. Marjorie closed her eyes again, 
and for a few minutes nothing happened. Then 
little Percy, tired of being “ stormed,” was rescued 
by his nurse, and Reggie and Bobby returned to 
their former places in the sand. 

‘‘ I say I those are pretty shells,” remarked 
Reggie, in a tone of would-be enthusiasm. “ I 
wouldn’t mind buying them myself, but five cents 
is too cheap. Won’t you take a quarter ?” 

Nora’s cheeks were crimson, but the look she 
gave Reggie said more than words could have 
done. 

** You are very kind,” she said, ** but I won’t 
take more than five cents. If you’ll take the 
shells for that, I shall be ever so much obliged.” 

“ What in the world do you want to do with 
that five cents?” demanded Marjorie, suddenly 
opening her eyes, and sitting up. Curiosity was 
getting the better of injured dignity. 

“I want to buy a postage stamp,” said Nora, 
simply. 

” A postage stamp I ” shrieked Marjorie, in a 
tone of such utter scorn and disbelief that more 
tears started to poor Nora’s eyes. There was no 
use trying to explain ; every word she uttered 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


176 

seemed only to make matters worse. But she had 
not counted on Reggie’s championship. 

“ Oh, do shut up, Marjorie,” he burst out, indig- 
nantly. ‘‘ Suppose Kathleen does want five cents 
to buy a postage stamp with, I don’t see that it’s 
any of our business. People don’t always have 
to tell things they don’t choose to. Come along, 
Kathleen, let’s go and look for some more shells.” 

Nora scrambled to her feet, hastily wrapping 
the shells in her handkerchief. Speech would not 
have been easy at that moment, but fortunately, 
it was unnecessary, for Reggie announced his in- 
tentions to Sarah. 

“ Kathleen and I are going for a little walk. 
I’ll take care of her.” 

“ Mind you don’t go too far,” warned Sarah. 
** Mr. Crawford’s orders were that I wasn’t to let 
Miss Kathleen get overheated, or tired.” 

Reggie promised not to go far, and the two 
children sauntered slowly away together. Mar- 
jorie, now fully awake, gazed after them, with a 
startled expression in her eyes. 

Bobby,” she said in a low tone to her brother, 
as the other two passed out of ear-shot, ** I be- 
lieve there’s something queer the matter with 
Kathleen. I’m rather scared about her.” 

” What is there to be scared about ? ” inquired 
Bobby. “ She always was rather spoiled, you know. 
I don’t see that she’s much queerer than usual.” 


REGGIE POSTS A LETTER 1 77 

“ I do/^ said Marjorie, solemnly ; “ she isn't the 
least bit like herself. If she wants a postage 
stamp, why in the world doesn't she ask her father 
or Sarah for it? And it isn't only that; she's 
been queer about lots of things ever since she 
came here. I asked her this morning if she had 
seen Sylvia Seymour since we came away, and 
she looked so queer, almost as if she didn't know 
what I was talking about. I asked her what the 
matter was, and she said nothing was the matter, 
and she hadn't seen ‘ that girl,' but her face was 
so red, and she looked dreadfully embarrassed. 
Think of her speaking of Sylvia as ‘ that girl,' 
when she's known her as long as I have. Do you 
suppose — it seems an awful thing to say, but do 
you suppose she can be losing her mind ? " 

*‘Bosh!" said Bobby, ** of course she isn't. 
Maybe she's just pretending to be queer on pur- 
pose to get us excited about her." 

Marjorie shook her head. 

‘‘I don't think so," she said. "Kathleen is 
spoiled, and rather hard to get on with some- 
times, but she wouldn't do a thing like that. 
There was a girl at school who studied so hard 
that it affected her brain. She had to have a 
trained nurse, and go to a sanitarium." 

"What became of her afterwards?" Bobby 
asked. 

" She died," said Marjorie, solemnly. " Oh, 


178 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


Bobby,” she added, her voice beginning to 
tremble, “ wouldn^t it be awful if anything like 
that happened to Kathleen ? I really am fond of 
her, you know, and the more I think of it, the 
more sure I feel she would never have told Reggie 
Starr she didn’t know us if she’d been in her right 
mind. I’m going to tell Auntie Ruth about what 
1 think, the minute I get back to the hotel, and 
she can tell Mr. Crawford if she thinks he ought 
to know.” 

“ Well, perhaps it would be a good plan,” 
agreed Bobby, “ and, I say, Marjorie, let’s be nice 
to Kathleen, no matter what she says. We’d feel 
so mean afterwards, you know, if we found she 
couldn’t help it.” 

Meanwhile Nora and Reggie had walked some 
distance in silence. Nora was having trouble 
with her eyes, and Reggie, too polite to appear to 
notice, was feeling decidedly uncomfortable. He 
hated to see a girl cry. Kathleen was certainly 
the queerest girl he had ever met, but they had 
had some good times together on the boat, and 
he was genuinely sorry for her. It was Nora who 
was the first to speak. 

“It was awfully good of you to offer to buy 
those shells,” she said, gratefully. “ I’m afraid 
they’re not really worth five cents, but you have 
no idea how much I want that stamp.” 

Reggie stood digging his toes into the sand for 


REGGIE POSTS A LETTER 1/9 

a moment in silence; then he blurted out ab- 
ruptly — 

“ I suppose you’re in a scrape, and don’t want 
your father or Sarah to see some letter you’ve 
written.” 

“Yes, that’s it; that’s just it!” cried Nora. 
“ Oh, Reggie, I am in an awful scrape. I’d give 
anything in the world to be able to tell you about 
it, but I can’t. If I told it would get somebody 
I love very much into dreadful trouble, and I 
would rather die than do that.” 

“You mustn’t tell if it’s as bad as that,” said 
Reggie, choking down his own curiosity with 
difficulty. “ Is the person you’re afraid of getting 
into trouble all right ? ” 

“ She’s the loveliest person in the world,” de- 
clared Nora. “ She never did anything wrong ; 
never since she was born, and I love her — oh, I 
can’t tell you how much I love her. It’s all my 
fault, and it wouldn’t ever have happened if I 
hadn’t done something wrong in the first place. 
I disobeyed, and that was the beginning of all the 
trouble.” 

“ I see,” said Reggie, thoughtfully ; “ then of 
course you can’t tell. I wish you’d tell me just 
one thing, though. What made you say you 
didn’t know the Campbells when you did ? ” 

Nora looked very much distressed. 

“ I wish I could explain,’" she said, hopelessly, 


l 80 NORA^S TWIN SISTER 

** but I can’t, not without telling the rest I know 
you must all think me terribly queer, and the 
worst of it is, I shall never be able to explain any- 
thing.” 

“ Never 1 ” exclaimed Reggie, incredulously. 
“ You mean we won’t ever understand ?” 

“ I’m afraid not,” said Nora. “ I’m afraid you’ll 
always have to go on thinking me queer, and — 
and — oh. I’m so dreadfully sorry 1 ” And the 
poor child covered her face with her hands, and 
burst into a perfect tempest of crying. 

Reggie was very much distressed. He longed 
to comfort Nora, but all he could think of to say 
was — 

“ Oh, do stop crying. There isn’t any use, you 
know. I don’t want to hear anything you can’t 
tell, so let’s come along and look for some more 
shells. Oh, by the way, here’s that five cents you 
wanted.” And embarrassed Reggie plunged a 
hand into his trousers pocket. 

Nora clasped the precious coin as if it had been 
gold instead of copper, and having hastily trans- 
ferred it to her own pocket, she checked her sobs, 
dried her eyes, and, with a mighty effort, plunged 
into the interesting occupation of looking for 
shells. 

When Nora and Reggie rejoined the Camp- 
bells, some fifteen minutes later, they were both 
surprised by the decided change in the atmos- 


REGGIE POSTS A LETTER iSl 

phere. Marjorie greeted Nora affectionately, 
even slipping an arm round her, as they sat side 
by side on the sand, and Bobby asked to look at 
the shells. 

“ They are beauties,^^ remarked Marjorie, amia- 
bly, as Nora spread out her treasures. ** I wish 
we had shells like that at home.^* 

“ Reggie says he has some wonderful things 
that he picked up in Egypt,^^ said Nora, who was 
feeling immensely relieved, now that the certainty 
of being able to post her letter was assured. ** Did 
he ever tell you about the time he and a little 
English girl got lost on the desert ? ” The Camp- 
bells had heard the story, but did not appear 
averse to hearing it again, and Reggie acceded 
readily to Marjorie’s request to relate his exciting 
experience. Reggie was rather proud of that 
Egyptian episode, and told his story well, ending 
with the dramatic appearance on the scene of the 
father of his little English friend. 

“ Now you tell us a story, Kathleen,” said 
Reggie, when he had brought his own tale to 
a satisfactory conclusioa “You tell splendid 
stories.” 

“Do you, Kathleen?” inquired Marjorie, in 
surprise. “ I never heard you tell a story.” 

“ She told me some first-rate ones on the boat,” 
maintained Reggie. “ She makes them up as she 
goes along, don’t you, Kathleen ? ” 


i 82 


NORA'S TIVIN SISTER 


** Sometimes I do,” said Nora, modestly. 

“ Make up one now,” urged Marjorie, who, to 
tell the truth, was rather sceptical of her friend's 
powers of invention. “ It's too hot to do anything 
else, and we might as well sit here till we go back 
to the hotel.” 

Nora hesitated for a moment, and then she 
began in a rather dreamy voice : 

“ Once upon a time there were a father and 
mother who had two twin baby girls. The babies 
were so exactly alike that nobody in the world 
could tell them apart except their mother. The 
father and mother loved their babies dearly, but 
they were very poor. The father was terribly 
clever, and wrote beautiful poetry and plays, but 
most people didn't appreciate his things, so the 
publishers wouldn’t take them, and he couldn't 
make any money. At last he was taken ill, and 
the poor little mother had to take care of them all, 
and work very hard to earn enough money to 
keep them from being hungry. 

‘‘ One day a fairy came to the flat where they 
were living, and she said : ‘ I know of a king and 
queen who live in a beautiful palace, and have 
everything they want in the world to make them 
happy, except just one ; they want a baby girl. 
I have promised to find a baby for them, and I 
want you to let me have one of your twins.' 

** The father and mother were very angry at 


REGGIE POSTS A LETTER 1 83 

first, and said they would never, never part with 
one of their children, but things kept getting worse 
and worse, and the poor father was so ill that the 
doctor said if he couldn’t have medicines and 
nourishing food he would surely die. And the 
fairy kept on coming, and trying to persuade 
them. So at last one day, when the father was 
very ill indeed, and there wasn’t anything in the 
house to eat, the little mother went to church, and 
prayed for a long time, and when she came home 
she told the father that she had decided to give 
the fairy one of her babies for the king and queen. 
Her heart was almost broken, but she knew it was 
the only thing to do. So they sent for the fairy. 

“ The fairy was delighted, and she came right 
away in a cab.” 

“I didn’t know fairies ever rode in cabs,” laughed 
Marjorie. 

Nora blushed. 

“This was a very modern fairy,” she said. 
“ When she was ready to take the baby away, the 
mother couldn’t make up her mind which of her 
twins to part with, so she made the father go into 
the room where they were both asleep, and he 
chose one, but he couldn’t tell which it was.” 

“ What were the babies’ names ? ” inquired 
Bobby, who liked detail. 

“ Their names were — were—oh, suppose we call 
them Violet and Lilybell. The father happened 


1 84 NORA'S TWIN SISTER 

to choose Violet, but he didn't know it till after- 
wards. 

** The fairy took little Violet to the marble 
palace, and the king and queen were delighted 
with her. They dressed her in satins and laces, 
and when she was old enough to play with toys, 
they bought her the most expensive things they 
could find. She used to play in a beautiful 
garden, and sometimes her mother and Lilybell 
would come and peep at her through the railings. 
They never could speak to Violet, or let her know 
they were there, because the mother had promised 
the fairy never to bother the king and queen, or 
to let Violet know they were not her real father 
and mother. It made the poor mother very sad 
never to be able to speak to her own little girl, 
and Lilybell used to wish and wish that she could 
do something about it. 

‘‘At last, when the twins were about twelve 
years old, it happened that Lilybell went alone 
one day to look through the railings into the 
beautiful garden. While she was standing there 
a wonderful thing happened. One of the palace 
servants came along, and thought Lilybell was 
Violet, because you see the twins were still so 
much alike nobody could possibly tell them apart. 
At first Lilybell tried to explain to the servant, 
and then, all at once, she had a great temptation. 
She had always wanted to get inside that palace 


REGGIE POSTS A LETTER 


I8S 


more than to do anything else in the world. So 
she stopped talking, and just let the maid push 
her through the garden gate and straight into the 
palace. Then the servant went away, thinking 
everything was all right, and Lilybell was left 
alone. There weren’t any people about, and she 
went on up the marble stairs to a beautiful room 
and there, sitting writing a letter, she found Violet. 

** Of course Violet was very much astonished to 
see another girl so exactly like herself, and she 
began asking questions, and before Lilybell 
realized the dreadful thing she was doing, she 
had told her the whole story, about her mother, 
and the fairy, and the king and queen. Then 
Violet grew very much excited, and said she must 
know her own mother, who loved her so dearly, 
and at last she persuaded Lilybell to change 
clothes with her, and take her place in the palace, 
while she went to see her own mother. 

“ At first it all seemed quite easy, and the twins 
thought they would be able to change back again 
the very next day, but that night the king sud- 
denly decided to go away on a long journey and 
take Violet with him. Poor Lilybell was terribly 
frightened, but she was afraid to tell any one what 
had happened, for fear her mother might be pun- 
ished for letting Violet stay with her all night, so 
she had to keep on pretending and pretending, 
and it got harder and harder, and ” 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


'tf86 

“ Come, children, time to go home,^^ called 
Sarah’s peremptory voice. “The boys say they 
must get their donkeys back to the hotel before 
six.” 

“ Oh, bother ! ” exclaimed Reggie, impatiently ; 
“ there isn’t any hurry. Finish the story first, 
Kathleen.” But Nora was already on her feet. 

“ I can’t,” she said. “ We’ve got to go. Any- 
how, I don’t know the end yet.” 

“ It’s a rather silly story,” remarked Marjorie. 
“ Of course such a thing could never really hap- 
pen, and I don’t care much for fairy-tales any more. 
I’m beginning to read Dickens and Scott, you 
know.” 

“ I’d like to know what happened when the king 
and queen found out,” said Reggie, who had not 
outgrown his love of stories. “ Can’t you hurry 
and make up the rest, Kathleen ? ” 

But Nora was saved the necessity of a reply, 
for at that moment she was seized upon by the 
small Percy Allen, who had just wakened from a 
nap in his nurse’s lap, and now desired to “ do 
home in de tart wis Tathleen.” So Nora — who 
adored babies — was relegated to the donkey-cart 
with Percy and Marie, and Marjorie, Sarah and 
the two boys, took their places in the other 
carts. 

It was not until they were entering the hotel 
that Nora found an opportunity for a private word 


REGGIE POSTS A LETTER 187 

with Reggie, but then she managed to drop be- 
hind Sarah long enough to whisper to her friend : 

Will you do something for me, Reggie ? ” 

** You bet I will !** was Reggie^s hearty assur- 
ance. 

Nora hastily drew something from her pocket, 
and thrust it into his hand. 

“ Buy a ^stamp and post this letter,” she whis- 
pered. ** Here’s your five cents back. Sarah 
won’t let me go to the office by myself, and she’s 
always around. It’s a terribly important letter. 
Will you be sure it gets off on the steamer to-mor- 
row morning ? ” 

** Sure,” promised Reggie, with a confident nod, 
and then Sarah turned to see why her charge was 
lingering behind, and there was no time for more 
conversation. 

Five minutes later the precious letter was safely 
deposited in the mail-box, and Reggie was on his 
way to his own room. He was more than a little 
curious, but, being a gentleman, he felt he had no 
right to bother his friend with questions, and he 
had been careful not to look at the address on the 
letter. 

” She’s all right, I know she is,” he told himself 
confidently. “ People do get into awful scrapes 
sometimes, and their friends ought to help them 
out. I rather like her, too, but I wish she hadn’t 
told that fib about not knowing the Campbells.” 


CHAPTER XIII 


THE DOCTOR'S ORDERS 

I T was Wednesday morning, and the little 
Bermuda steamer had sailed away on her 
voyage back to New York, carrying a goodly 
number of passengers, and several bags of mail. 
From the hotel piazza many of the guests had 
watched her departure, waving farewells to friends 
and acquaintances on board, and now there was 
nothing more to be seen but a little cloud of 
smoke, rapidly disappearing on the horizon. 

“ Well, here we are cut off from the rest of the 
world till the boat comes back next week," Nora 
heard the Campbells' uncle, Mr. Allen, remark to 
another gentleman, and, oddly enough, the words 
caused her a scarcely understood feeling of satis- 
faction, even pleasure. Now that she was sure 
her letter was safely on its way to New York her 
principal cause for anxiety had been removed. 
There was nothing more that she could do, and, 
after all, Bermuda was very beautiful, and people 
were very kind. Even “ playing a part " did not 
seem quite so difficult this lovely morning. 

i88 


THE DOCTOR'S ORDERS 


189 


She stood leaning against the piazza railing, 
watching a party of guests start for a sail. It did 
not seem possible that anything unpleasant could 
happen on such a morning. Ever since their re- 
turn from the beach the previous afternoon, Mar- 
jorie had been very kind and pleasant. She had 
spent a wonderful evening, watching the marvel- 
ous performances of a famous magician, and this 
afternoon Reggie’s father was to take them all to 
visit some interesting caves. Nora had never 
seen a cave, and her romantic little soul thrilled at 
the prospect. If only Mr. Crawford would stop 
watching her so intently, and with such a worried, 
puzzled look in his eyes, she felt she could really 
be almost happy. But that Kathleen’s father was 
worried about something it was easy to see, and 
Nora had a strong misgiving that his anxiety was 
caused by herself. 

“ Hello, Kathleen ! ” said Reggie, sauntering up 
to his friend’s side. “ What are you going to do 
this morning ? ” 

“ Marjorie has asked me to go out with her in 
the donkey car,” answered Nora. ‘‘ Don’t you 
love donkeys ? ” 

“ Oh, they’re not bad,” Reggie admitted, ” but 
of course they’re not exciting like camels. I rode 
a camel when I was in Egypt, and that really was 
great.” 

It must have been,” agreed Nora. “ I hope I 


190 NORA'S TWIN SISTER 

shall travel a lot when I grow up. I should like 
to see everything in the world, but of course I 
can’t ; it would cost too much.” 

‘‘ What are you people talking about ?” inquired 
Marjorie, joining the others and slipping an arm 
affectionately about Nora’s waist. Marjorie was 
looking unusually serious and important that 
morning, and her manner to Nora was not with- 
out a touch of protecting tenderness. 

“ Kathleen was saying she would like to see 
every place in the world,” said Reggie, laugh- 
ing. 

“ I thought I heard Kathleen talking about 
something costing too much,” said Marjorie, sus- 
piciously. 

''So I did,” said Nora, innocently. "I said of 
course I couldn’t travel, because it would cost too 
much.” 

" This is the first time I ever heard you bother- 
ing about money,” said Marjoria " I never knew 
any girl who could spend so much, and think as 
little about it as you can. I didn’t think you 
cared about traveling either. You always said you 
would rather spend the summer at Big Moose 
than go abroad. I’d give anything to go to 
Europe, but you always told me you were terribly 
bored that winter you spent in Rome.” 

" Rome ! ” exclaimed Reggie, his eyes opening 
wide in astonishment ; " why, you never told me 


THE DOCTOR'S ORDERS 191 

you had been to Rome. I thought you said 

Reggie paused abruptly, warned by the agonized 
appeal in Nora’s eyes. 

Marjorie gave a little excited gasp, and sud- 
denly removing her arm from Nora’s waist, hurried 
away without another word, and a moment later 
was in earnest conversation with her aunt, who 
had just come out on the piazza. Nora gazed 
after her hopelessly. 

“ Now she’ll think I’ve told another fib,” she 
said, with a half suppressed sob, ‘‘ and she was 
just beginning to act as if she liked me.” 

“Well, you have, haven’t you ? ” said Reggie, 
bluntly. He had grown suddenly serious, and 
was looking rather disgusted as well. 

Nora was silent. To deny the charge would 
only lead to more questions that she could not 
answer, and yet — Reggie had been so kind, and 
she liked him so much. Oh, why had she for- 
gotten about that year Kathleen had spent abroad ? 
It had all happened so long ago, before she had 
known of the existence of her twin sister, and she 
had quite forgotten it when she had told Reggie 
so confidently on the steamer that she had never 
been on a big ship before. She stood with crim- 
son cheeks and downcast eyes, the picture of 
shame and humiliation. Reggie turned away 
abruptly. 

“Well, I guess I’ll go and look up Father,” he 


192 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


said in a tone of would-be indifference. ‘‘Per- 
haps he’ll take me fishing.” 

Nora opened her lips to speak, but before the 
words would come Reggie had left her, and, with 
a horrible foreboding that she was going to cry, 
she turned and hurried into the house. 

She found Sarah in her room, arranging a great 
bowl of roses. 

“Your papa brought them in,” the maid ex- 
plained. “ Did you ever see such beauties ? ” 

“ They’re very pretty,” said Nora, indifferently, 
and Sarah, noticing the tremor in her voice, 
looked at her sharply. 

“What’s the matter?” she inquired. “Don’t 
you feel well ? ” 

“ Oh, yes. I’m very well indeed,” Nora assured 
her, “ only — only I’m feeling a little unhappy 
about something. I’ll be all right in a few min- 
utes.” And she went over to the window, and 
stood with her back to Sarah, while two big tears 
rolled slowly down her cheeks. Sarah went on 
arranging the roses in silence. 

“ I suppose you and Miss Marjorie have been 
quarreling again,” she observed at last. “ Why 
two children should seem to enjoy quarreling, as 
you two seem to enjoy it, is more than I can make 
out. I don’t believe Miss Joy ever had a quarrel 
with any one in her life.” 

“ I don’t enjoy quarreling with people,” pro- 


THE DOCTORS ORDERS 


193 


tested Nora, her voice still far from steady. “ I 

hate it; I ” Nora checked herself abruptly, 

for at that moment the door opened, and Mr. Craw- 
ford entered, accompanied by a tall thin lady, 
whom she had never seen before. 

“ Well, Kathleen darling,” began Mr. Crawford, 
cheerfully, “ isn^t this a pleasant surprise? ” 

Nora, feeling that something was evidently ex- 
pected of her, came forward, and held out her 
hand to the stranger, but there was no expression 
of pleasure or recognition on her face. 

“ How do you do ? ” she said, politely. 

The thin lady stood looking at her very intently, 
and Nora noticed that she had keen brown eyes, 
that seemed to see right through one. After 
a moment of silence, she suddenly inquired 
sharply — 

“ Who am I, Kathleen ? ” 

At the unexpected question, Nora started 
back, and a look of actual terror came into her 
face. 

“ I — I don’t know,” she faltered ; ** at least I 
mean ” 

“ I thought so,” said the lady, quietly. Then 
turning to Mr. Crawford — who had grown very 
pale — she added in a low tone — 

‘‘Just what I feared from what you told me. I 
would consult Dr. Walker at once; he is con- 
sidered the best here.” 


194 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


Nora did not hear the words; she was too 
frightened to think of anything but the dreadful 
admission she had made. She never doubted for 
a moment but that she had been found out, and 
stood awaiting the torrent of reproaches which 
she fully expected to follow. She was conscious 
of the fact that Sarah had left off arranging the 
roses, and was staring at her in horrified amaze- 
ment. Then Mr. Crawford spoke, but, to Nora’s 
surprise, there was no anger in his voice. 

** Why, Kathleen,” he said, gently, “ surely you 
must remember Miss Beck, who was so good to 
you last winter when you had bronchitis. Try 
and think, darling.” 

But Nora only shook her head helplessly. 

“ Don’t worry her, Mr. Crawford,” said Miss 
Beck in a warning whisper. “Come and lie 
down on the sofa, Kathleen. There isn’t any- 
thing to be frightened about ; you’ll be better in a 
little while.” 

Nora had no objection to complying with this 
request. It was a great relief to close her eyes, 
and hide her burning face in the sofa pillow, but 
why should she be told to lie down ? She could 
not imagine, unless this were some new mode of 
punishment. She lay still while the others talked 
in whispers. Then the door closed, and she 
realized that Mr. Crawford had left the room. A 
moment later, a hand was laid on her shoulder, 


THE DOCTOR'S ORDERS 195 

and she opened her eyes to find Miss Beck stand- 
ing over her. 

“Open your mouth, dear,*' Miss Beck com- 
manded ; “I want to take your temperature.” 

“What for?” inquired Nora. She did not feel 
at all sure what form this strange new punish- 
ment was going to take. 

“To see if you are feverish,” Miss Beck ex- 
plained. 

Then all at once Nora remembered something, 
and the recollection afforded her a great relief. 
When she had the measles the doctor had put a 
little tube under her tongue, and had made the 
same remark about taking her temperature. Was 
it possible, after all, that she had not been found 
out, but that they all thought she was ill ? Nora 
nearly laughed out loud at the absurdness of the 
idea. Why in the world should people think her 
ill, just because she hadn't been able to remember 
somebody she was supposed to know ? But she 
reflected that anything was better than having 
her secret discovered, so she made no further ob- 
jection, and sat patiently, with the little ther- 
mometer in her mouth, while Miss Beck looked 
at her watch, and Sarah moved softly about the 
room looking both shocked and worried. 

In due time the thermometer was removed, and 
Miss Beck examined it carefully. 

“ She has no fever,” Nora heard her tell Sarah, 


196 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


and then the two women talked in low voices, 
and Nora could only catch an occasional sentence 
of their conversation. 

“She hasn’t been a bit natural since she left 
New York,” Sarah affirmed. “ She’s been much 
better-tempered, though, and easier to get on 
with, and I didn’t think much of it except to be 
thankful she was behaving so well.” 

The voices dropped, and Nora could make out 
nothing more until Miss Beck said — • 

“ He says he has been worried ever since you 
came, but he couldn’t make up his mind what the 
trouble was till this morning when a lady told him 
something the child had said to her niece yester- 
day that seemed to show there was something 
wrong with her brain. I’ve been down here with 
a patient for the past month, but she left this 
morning on the steamer, and I had just seen her 
off, when I met Mr. Crawford. You see, I’m 
pretty tired, for my old lady was a trying case, so 
I thought I might as well stay on here by myself 
for a week’s rest. Of course I couldn’t refuse 
Mr. Crawford, when he asked me to take this 
case.” 

Again the voices were lowered, but Nora had 
learned all that was necessary. They thought 
she must be ill, because she couldn’t remember 
people, and Miss Beck was a nurse. It would be 
dreadful to go on pretending to be ill, and letting 


THE DOCTOR'S ORDERS 


197 


people worry about her. She could not forget the 
pain in Mr. Crawford^s face when he had asked 
her if she did not remember Miss Beck. But if 
she told the truth now, what might not happen to 
Mummy ? Perhaps if she kept on pretending to 
be ill, they might go home sooner, and once in 
New York, she would surely be able to find some 
way of getting back to the studio, and changing 
places with Kathleen. Then, when Mr. Crawford 
found that his own Kathleen was quite well, he 
would be so happy, and perhaps things might 
go on just as they used to. She was too young 
to realize all the difficulties and complications of 
such a course; her one idea was to “play her 
part” to the end, and save her mother from 
trouble and possible disgrace. 

But would she be able to go on pretending to 
be ill ? That was the question. She knew very 
little about illness, and had no very clear idea 
how a person who was supposed to require the 
services of a trained nurse ought to act. 

“ I suppose Father had to play he was ill some- 
times when he was acting,” she reflected. “ There 
was that play Mummy read me where he had to 
die in a garret. I suppose I must lie still, and 
keep my eyes shut most of the time, and talk in a 
very low voice, and only speak when people ask 
me questions. Oh, I do wonder what they 
think is the matter with me.” 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


198 

Nora^s reflections were interrupted by the re- 
turn of Mr. Crawford, accompanied this time by 
a stout gentleman, who seemed to know Miss 
Beck, and whom she addressed as Dr. Walker. 
Dr. Walker — who appeared to be rather a pom- 
pous person- “began at once putting Sarah 
through a cross-examination, as to everything her 
charge had said or done since leaving New York. 
They spoke in whispers, but Nora — who was 
eagerly listening to catch every word — was able 
to understand a good deal of what they said. 

“ She hadn't seemed real well for two or three 
weeks," Sarah explained. ** She was nervous and 
fretful, and two or three times I found her crying, 
but she wouldn’t tell me what the matter was. 
The housekeeper sent for the doctor, but he didn’t 
seem to think it was anything worse than spring 
fever. He said a change would do her good, and 
I thought she would be all right when she got 
down here. But it was only after we were on the 
boat that ’’ 

Here the doctor gave a warning cough, and 
glanced significantly at the little motionless figure 
on the sofa. Sarah dropped her voice, and Nora 
heard no more until Dr. Walker came over to her 
side, and took her hand. 

“ Not feeling quite up to the mark this morning, 
eh ? ’’ he remarked cheerfully. “ Got a pretty bad 
headache, haven’t you ? ’’ 


THE DOCTORS ORDERS 


199 


“ No,” said Nora, truthfully ; “I haven* t any 
headache at all.*’ 

The doctor smiled indulgently, and shook his 
head. 

“Well, now that’s very nice, isn’t it?” he said, 
but his voice did not sound as if he were alto- 
gether satisfied. “ All we need, I think, is a good 
long rest, and we shall be as well as ever again. 
You are going to be so happy with kind Miss Beck 
to take care of you, that you won’t mind lying 
still for a few days.” 

Nora sat up. This was rather more than she 
had bargained for. 

“ I think you are mistaken about my being ill,” 
she said, politely ; “ I am perfectly well, I really 
am.” 

“ There, there, that’s all right, my dear, we 
know all about it. Just lie down again, and don’t 
worry your little brain about anything.” And 
Nora was forced gently back among the sofa 
cushions. 

“ But you don’t know all about it ; that’s just 
the trouble,” protested Nora. “ I can’t explain — 
at least I’d much rather not — but I don’t want 
people to be unhappy about me, and think I am 
ill when I’m not.” 

“ My dear little girl, you will really have to stop 
talking, or we shall be obliged to scold you.” 
The doctor still spoke playfully, but there was de- 


200 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


cision in his tone as well, and Nora dared not dis- 
obey him. She noticed that both Miss Beck and 
Sarah were looking very grave, and that Mr. 
Crawford was pale and troubled. It was dreadful 
to see Kathleen^s daddy so unhappy, and suddenly 
Nora made a desperate resolution. 

“ I’m going to tell the truth,” she said, sitting 
up again, in spite of the doctor’s efforts to keep 
her quiet. ‘‘You all think I’m Kathleen Craw- 
ford, but ” 

Nora got no farther, for the doctor laid a firm 
hand on her lips. 

“Not another word, my little girl,” he said. 
“ Everything is quite all right, and we understand, 
but we cannot let you talk just now.” 

There was no use in trying to explain. No one 
would listen to her. Perhaps they would not be- 
lieve her now, even if she told the whole story. 
They thought she was very ill ; probably delirious. 
She had read in books of people who were delirious 
and talked nonsense for days and nights at a time. 
With a sob, Nora buried her face in the sofa cush- 
ions. 

An hour later Nora was in bed ; the room had 
been darkened, and Miss Beck, in her nurse’s uni- 
form, was installed at the bedside. Nora had not 
been even allowed to undress herself. Miss Beck 
and Sarah had undressed her just as though she 
were a baby. As soon as she was in bed Miss 


THE DOCTOR'S ORDERS 


201 


Beck had brought her some medicine in a glass. 
It did not taste very good, but after she had swal- 
lowed it things did not seem quite so dreadful as 
they had before, for she grew drowsy and indiffer- 
ent, and scarcely noticed when the doctor came 
back, and held another whispered conversation 
with Miss Beck and Sarah. She only woke up to 
a passing interest in things when her temperature 
was being taken, and when she heard the doctor 
say — 

“ She must be kept absolutely quiet for the next 
few days. It is a clear case of nervous break- 
down, accompanied by asphasia. It has probably 
been caused by over-study.*' 

Nora wanted to tell him that she had not studied 
very hard, and that she was quite sure her nerves 
were not “ broken down,** but she felt too sleepy to 
talk, and soon dropped off into a heavy, dreamless 
sleep, from which she did not wake till late in the 
afternoon. 


CHAPTER XIV 


NORA TO THE RESCUE 

F or five days Nora had been a prisoner in 
her room — five long, bright, interminable 
days. Through the open windows she 
had heard the sounds of voices and laughter ; she 
had even recognized the voices of Reggie and the 
Campbells, but the only people she had seen were 
the doctor, Mr. Crawford, Miss Beck, and Sarah. 
Either Miss Beck or Sarah was always at her bed- 
side, and several times each day Mr. Crawford 
would come softly into the room, and stand look- 
ing down at her, with such sorrow and tenderness 
in his eyes, that . she longed to comfort him. 
Twice she had tried to explain, but each time Miss 
Beck had silenced her, with the same assurance 
that everything was all right, and she would soon 
be quite well again. And then Kathleen’s father 
had gone away, looking sadder than ever. One 
grain of comfort Nora had, and that was in the 
fact that they were to go back to New York on the 
next boat. Mr. Crawford was anxious to reach 
home as soon as possible, in order to procure 
202 


NORA TO THE RESCUE 


203 


better medical advice for his little daughter. He 
was not altogether satisfied with the opinion of 
the Bermuda doctor. The steamer from New 
York was due on Monday, and would sail again 
on Wednesday morning. It was Monday morn- 
ing now, and in four days more, provided all went 
well, they would be in New York. What would 
happen after that Nora hardly dared to think, but 
at least Mummy would be near, and in those long, 
solitary days the poor child had longed for her 
mother with a longing that was almost too great 
to bear. 

But on that glorious Monday morning there 
came a change, as welcome to Nora as it was un- 
expected. In the first place. Dr. Walker did not 
make his usual morning visit. Miss Beck said he 
had been called away, to see a very sick patient, 
at the other end of the island. The next thing 
that happened was that Miss Beck spent an un- 
usual length of time in looking out of the window, 
and finally left the room, leaving her patient in 
Sarah’s charge. When she returned, some ten 
minutes later, she was smiling, and there was a 
note of triumph in her voice. 

“ I have had a little talk with Mr. Crawford,” 
she announced to Sarah, ** and he says I may do 
as I think best. He has great confidence in my 
judgment.” 

** Do you think it’s the right thing to go against 


204 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


the doctor’s orders?*’ questioned Sarah, doubt- 
fully. 

Miss Beck pursed her thin lips, and tossed her 
head scornfully. 

“ I flatter myself that I have had sufficient ex- 
perience to judge for myself sometimes,” she said. 
‘‘ Doctors don’t know everything in this world ; 
you can take it from me they don’t. That child 
hasn’t eaten enough in the past two days to keep 
a canary bird alive, and what she needs is a little 
fresh air and a change of scene, as I’ve just been 
telling her father. The doctor may say what he 
chooses when he comes home, but that won’t be 
before this evening, and in the meantime I’m go- 
ing to have my own way.” 

Sarah was aghast. That any one should dare 
to disobey a doctor’s orders seemed to her little 
less than criminal. But Miss Beck was a pro- 
fessional nurse, and she herself was only a servant, 
so she wisely held her peace. Miss Beck ap- 
proached Nora’s bedside in her brisk, decided way. 

“ I am going to let you get up for a while,” she 
said, stooping to touch the child’s cool forehead. 
** You haven’t a particle of fever, and I am sure 
the change will do you good.” 

Nora — who had been lying with half-closed 
eyeS; listlessly trying to make up the plot for a 
new story — started up with a little cry of joy. 

Oh, may I really get up ? ” There was such 


JVO/^A TO THE RESCUE 


205 


untold relief in the child's voice, and in her 
brightening face, that Miss Beck felt more con- 
vinced than ever that she was right in her opinion. 
Still, it would not do to raise false hopes, so she 
answered guardedly ; 

“ You seem better this morning, and if you will 
promise to be very quiet, and do just as you are 
told, you may be dressed and go out on the lawn 
for an hour. But remember, you are not to get 
excited, or tire yourself in any way." 

“ ril do anything you want me to if you'll only 
let me get up," said Nora, humbly. I didn’t 
know it was possible to get so terribly tired of 
anything as I am of this bed." 

Miss Beck smiled, and for the first time Nora 
thought her smile was rather pleasant. 

“ Well, you have had a good deal of it," she 
admitted. ** I would have had you up days ago 
if it had rested with me, but the doctor — well, I 
suppose he knew what he was talking about. 
Now I want you to stand up, and tell me if your 
legs feel very weak." 

‘‘ They don’t feel weak at all," declared Nora, 
and in proof thereof, she gave herself a little 
shake, and promptly began skipping about the 
room. *‘Oh, but it is good to be out of that 
horrid bed ! " she cried joyfully. “ I feel as if I 
would like to run about ten miles. Please let me 
dress myself ; I just hate having people dress me,” 


206 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


Miss Beck and Sarah exchanged glances, and 
Sarah whispered : 

“ Not right yet, you see. She was always the 
laziest child about doing things for herself."’ 

Miss Beck said nothing, but she was looking 
very much puzzled. Indeed, she was finding her 
present case about the most puzzling she had ever 
undertaken. No objection was made, however, 
to Nora’s performing her own toilet, and the two 
women watched her in ever-growing astonish- 
ment. 

“ She hasn’t lost flesh at any rate,” remarked 
Sarah, when Nora, after several futile attempts to 
button her dress in the back, was forced to appeal 
to the maid for assistance. “ This dress was al- 
most too big for her before we left New York, and 
now it’s got to be let out.” 

“ What will she say when Kathleen comes back, 
and she finds all her clothes too loose again ? ” 
thought Nora uneasily. “ Oh, what an awful 
mix-up it all is I But I’m so happy to be up again 
that I can’t worry much about anything this 
morning.” 

Mr. Crawford was waiting for his little daughter 
in the corridor, and his greeting was so loving 
and tender, that Nora was conscious of a sudden 
pang of shame and remorse at the thought of all 
the pain and anxiety she was causing Kathleen’s 
father. These feelings were not diminished when. 


JVOJ^A TO THE RESCUE 


207 


after she had been comfortably installed in a 
steamer chair on the lawn, in view of the tennis 
courts, Mr. Crawford produced from his pocket a 
small leather case which he told her to open. 

Nora complied, and in the next moment she 
uttered a little cry of admiration, for in the case 
was a tiny gold watch, and attached to the watch 
was a beautiful gold chain. 

“ Oh, how lovely, how very lovely 1 ” she ex- 
claimed. ** Did you buy it ? Is it a present for 
somebody ? ” 

“ I certainly did buy it for a present,’* said Mr. 
Crawford, smiling. “I hoped you would like it, 
darling.” 

“You mean you bought it for Kath — I mean 
for me ! ” gasped Nora. “ Oh, but it’s much too 
beautiful. Fm sure I ought not to take it.” 

All the pleasure died suddenly out of Mr. Craw- 
ford’s face, and he looked very grave and 
troubled. 

“ I want you to have it, dear,” he said in a 
voice that trembled a little, and Nora, suddenly re- 
membering that this was scarcely the way in 
which little girls usually accepted presents from 
their fathers, blushed a vivid crimson, and mur- 
mured an embarrassed “ Thank you, oh, thank 
you very much.” 

But all her pleasure in the pretty trinket was 
gone, and she sat gazing at it with dim, unseeing 


2o8 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


eyes, while Mr. Crawford and Miss Beck moved 
away, and held a low-toned conversation. Oh, 
how sorry and ashamed she felt 1 Of course the 
watch could be given to its rightful owner as soon 
as she and Kathleen met, but in the meantime to 
keep it and even wear it, seemed so — so almost 
dishonest. A sob rose in Nora’s throat, and she 
had hard work in keeping back the rising tears. 
How gladly she would have confessed everything 
at that moment ; taken any punishment they 
might have thought fit to inflict, but nobody would 
believe her — they would only look shocked and 
frightened, and tell her not to talk, and that she 
would soon be well again. If she spoke of it 
it might mean an immediate return to that 
darkened room. Nora shuddered at the horrible 
possibility. So after a little more reflection, she 
put the watch and chain back in the case, and res- 
olutely closed the lid. 

If I keep looking at them I may begin to be 
envious,” she told herself. “I’ve always wanted 
a gold watch and chain more than anything else 
in the world.” 

It was very pleasant out there in the fresh air 
and sunshine, and before long Nora found her- 
self beginning to take an interest in watching the 
tennis players. A tournament was in progress, 
and among the many spectators she soon discov- 
ered the two Campbells and their uncle and aunt. 


NORA TO THE RESCUE 


209 


They did not see her, but Mr. and Mrs. Carew — 
who were also watching the players — came to 
speak to her, and told her how glad they were to 
see her out again. 

“You don’t look as if you had been ill,” Mr. 
Carew said, kindly, to which Nora replied that she 
felt very well indeed. 

“ Don’t you think I might go for a walk ? ” she 
added pleadingly, but Mr. and Mrs. Carew shook 
their heads, and told her she must be a good girl, 
and do just as Miss Beck said, and then they went 
back to their seats, and Nora was left alone with 
her two guardians. Miss Beck and Sarah, for Mr. 
Crawford had gone into the hotel after his conver- 
sation with the nurse. 

By and by Miss Beck rose. 

“ I am going to leave you for a little while,” she 
told Nora. “ I want to call on a friend at the 
hotel where I was staying with my last patient. 
You may stay here with Sarah till I come back.” 

It was with a feeling of distinct satisfaction that 
Nora watched the nurse disappear in the distance. 
Miss Beck meant to be kind, she was sure, but it 
was very tiresome to be constantly watched over, 
and she was not accustomed to nurses. With 
Miss Beck safely out of the way, perhaps Sarah 
might be persuaded to take her for just a little 
walk. But when approached on the subject 
Sarah proved quite firm. 


210 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


** You are to be kept perfectly quiet,” she said ; 
“ those were the doctor’s orders. I’ll read to you 
if you like.” 

Nora pouted. She was by nature a very 
amiable child, but five days of enforced quiet in a 
darkened room had tried her nerves more than a 
little. 

“ I don’t want to hear any reading, thank you,” 
she said, crossly, and then she deliberately turned 
her back on Sarah, who thereupon opened an old 
magazine she had found on a bench, and im- 
mediately became deeply absorbed in an account 
of the exciting adventures of a band of Arctic 
explorers. 

For the next fifteen minutes nothing happened. 
Nora watched the tennis players, and listened to 
the birds. Then suddenly, she caught sight of a 
familiar figure approaching in her direction. It 
was Reggie Starr. At sight of his friend, Reggie’s 
face brightened perceptibly, and he ran quickly 
across the lawn to greet her. 

Hello ! ” he began, in his cheerful, matter-of- 
fact voice, ‘‘ are you all right again ? ” 

” I was always all right,” returned Nora, who 
was still feeling decidedly cross. “There never was 
anything the matter with me. They only thought 
I was ill.” 

Reggie opened his lips to say something ; then 
evidently changed his mind, and closed them 


JVOJ^A TO THE RESCUE 


2II 


again. There was a moment of rather embar- 
rassed silence, which Reggie broke. 

“ Why did you let them keep you in bed if 
there wasn’t anything the matter with you ? ” he 
inquired, bluntly. ‘‘ I bet people would have a 
pretty hard time keeping me in bed.” 

“Did you ever have a trained nurse?” Nora 
asked. 

“ Goodness no I I should hope not. Mother 
has them sometimes, though, and they’re an awful 
bother.” 

“ Well, if youM ever had one you’d understand 
why I had to stay in bed,” said Nora. “It’s 
perfectly awful. They take your temperature 
every two hours, and they won’t let you talk, and 
make you drink milk, and— oh, don’t let’s talk 
about it. I’m up this morning, anyhow, and it’s 
lovely out here. I’m just crazy to go for a walk.” 

“ Do you think you’d better ? ” Reggie inquired 
doubtfully. “Everybody seems to think you’ve 
been very ill.” 

“ Well, I haven’t been very ill, even if they do 
think so, and if I don’t have a good run soon, I 
shall — I believe I shall scream, or do something 
awful.” 

“The Campbells say ” began Reggie, but 

Nora cut him short. 

“ The Campbells don’t know anything about 
it,” she snapped. “ I guess I ought to know 


212 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


whether Fve been ill or not, better than Marjorie 
Campbell/^ 

Reggie looked very much puzzled, and then he 
suddenly remembered something which during 
the past few days he had been quite ready to for- 
get. When a girl was so ill that she had to have 
a trained nurse, and wasn’t allowed to see any of 
her friends, it didn’t seem quite fair to remember 
that she hadn’t always told the truth. Besides, 
Marjorie Campbell had dropped mysterious hints, 
which he had not altogether understood, but 
which seemed to convey the impression that poor 
Kathleen wasn’t to be held responsible for all the 
things she said. But now, here was Kathleen 
herself, looking the picture of health, and assuring 
him that she had never been ill at all. 

I guess I know what the trouble with you is,” 
he remarked, with a sudden inspiration ; ** you’ve 
got such a lot of imagination, you just can't help 
making up things.” 

Nora blushed. 

“ I know you think I tell fibs,” she said, sadly, 
” and I’m afraid I can’t ever make people under- 
stand. I’ve tried to explain, but nobody will be- 
lieve me. It’s dreadful. Sometimes I feel as if I 
couldn’t bear it.” 

There were tears in Nora’s eyes, and her voice 
trembled. Reggie was touched. 

“ Well, never mind,” he said, good-naturedly ; 


JVOI^A TO THE RESCUE 


213 


“ don’t let’s bother about it. I say, the steamer’s 
coming. Wouldn’t you like to come down to the 
pier, and watch the people get off ? ’ • 

Nora glanced doubtfully at Sarah, who was by 
this time absorbed in a detective story, and had 
not even noticed Reggie’s approach. Then she 
rose resolutely. 

Come along,” she said, and in another second 
she was running across the lawn so fast that even 
fleet-footed Reggie found some difficulty in keep- 
ing pace with her. 

“ Oh, I say, hold on, not quite so fast I ” gasped 
Reggie. ** I should say you could run, but what 
makes you in such a hurry ? The steamer won’t 
be in for ten minutes.” 

I don’t care anything about the steamer,” 
scoffed Nora. “All I want is to get away quick, 
before Sarah sees me. Miss Beck has gone to call 
on somebody at another hotel, but she told Sarah 
to watch me all the time she was away. Oh, but 
I do feel better for that run I ” And, having 
reached what she considered a safe distance from 
the watchful Sarah, Nora paused for breath. 
Reggie grinned understandingly. 

“ I don’t believe she can catch up now,” he said, 
with a backward glance in the direction from which 
they had come. “ She’s rather fat, isn’t she ? ” 

“ Not very, but she doesn’t like walking fast ; 
she says it gives her a pain in her side. I don’t 


214 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


want to worry her, but I just had to get away for 
a few minutes. Oh, look at all the people on the 
pier.’^ 

“There are the Campbells,** announced Reg- 
gie. “They*ve got the Allen baby with them, 
too. Let's go and speak to them.** 

Nora hesitated, but at that very moment the 
small Percy Allen caught sight of his beloved 
“ Tathleen,*’ and, with a cry of joy, had dropped 
his cousin Marjorie*s hand, and started on a run 
in her direction. 

“ Come back, baby,’* shrieked Marjorie, starting 
in hot pursuit. “ Oh, he’ll be run over ; I know 
he will I” 

But baby had already dashed across the road to 
the imminent risk of life and limb, and was cling- 
ing rapturously to Nora’s skirts. 

“ Percy wants to stay wis Tathleen,** he shouted. 
“ Tathleen tell Percy *tories.** 

Nora laughed, and caught the little fellow up in 
her arms. 

“Of course I’ll tell you stories, darling,” she 
said, kissing the chubby little face. “ Have you 
missed Tathleen all these long days ? ” 

“ Percy wely glad Tathleen tome back,” said 
the child, and he put up a tiny hand and patted 
Nora’s cheek. But by this time Marjorie, pale 
and breathless, had crossed the road, arid borne 
down upon her naughty little cousin. 


NORA TO THE RESCUE 


215 


“ Naughty, naughty baby,” she scolded. ” Sup- 
pose you had been run over ; what would Mamma 
have said to poor Cousin Marjorie ? You prom- 
ised to be a good boy when Mamma let Cousin 
Marjorie take you to see the big boat come in.” 

” Percy not naughty boy,” objected that small 
person, whom Nora had now set down on his feet. 
“ Percy tame to see Tathleen.” 

Then Marjorie, her anxiety about the baby be- 
ing relieved, turned her attention to Nora. 

” I didn’t know you were well enough to be out, 
Kathleen,” she said, doubtfully. “ Is Sarah with 
you ? ” 

“ She came with me,” laughed Reggie. She 
gave Sarah the slip. You ought to have seen her 
run.” 

Marjorie grew suddenly very grave. 

“ Here, Bobby,” she called to her brother, “ you 
take charge of baby. I’ve got to talk to Kath- 
leen. Go with Cousin Bobby, Percy, there’s a 
good boyc” 

But Percy had no intention of being a good boy. 
On the contrary, he promptly began to cry, de- 
claring his firm intention of staying with Tathleen, 
and no one else. Marjorie, however, was a stern 
disciplinarian, and she was really a good deal 
frightened. So the weeping Percy was led off by 
his tall cousin, who, in order to assuage his 
grief, produced from his pocket a large and sticky 


2I6 


NORA*S TWIN SISTER 


lemon-drop, which he promptly deposited in the 
baby’s open mouth. 

Now, Kathleen,” said Marjorie, slipping an 
arm round Nora’s waist, “you and I are going 
back to the hotel together. You ought not to 
have run away from Sarah. She’s probably very 
much frightened.” 

“ Of course she isn’t frightened,” protested 
Nora; “there isn’t anything to be frightened 
about. Oh, if you only knew how glorious it is 
to be out again ! Why won’t you let Percy stay 
with me ? I’d love to tell him a story.” 

“Because you’ve got to go right back to 
Sarah,” said Marjorie, authoritatively. “Your 
father told Auntie Ruth that you were to be kept 
perfectly quiet.” 

Nora’s eyes flashed ; her Irish blood was up. 
It was one thing to be forced to obey Miss Beck, 
or even Sarah, but quite another to be ordered 
about by a girl of her own age. 

“ I will not go back to Sarah until I am ready,” 
she announced defiantly. “ I would just like to 
see any one make me. I don’t believe you know 
what it is to be shut up in a dark room, and have 
to stay in bed for five whole days, Oh, here 
comes the steamer. Isn’t it crowded ? ” 

Marjorie turned appealingly to the boys. 

“ Do help me,” she pleaded. “ We’ve got to 
get her back to the hotel, you know.” 


JVOI^A TO THE RESCUE 


217 


** Oh, shucks I ” exclaimed Reggie, “Do leave 
her alone. I don’t believe there’s a single thing 
the matter with her. You wouldn’t either if you 
had seen her run.” 

“You don’t know anything about it,” protested 
Marjorie. “ There is something dreadful the mat- 
ter with her. Mr. Crawford and Mrs. Carew are 
terribly worried. Oh, Kathleen dear, please do 
come. I ” 

A yell from Bobby brought his sister’s appeal 
to an abrupt end, and caused her to turn her at- 
tention to something quite different. 

“ Look at the baby, oh, look quick I He’s chok- 
ing or something.” 

“ Of course he’s choking,” cried the horrified 
Marjorie. “ Did you let him put anything in his 
mouth ? ” 

“ I gave him a lemon-drop to stop his crying,” 
Bobby admitted. “ It must have slipped down his 
throat. Oh, I say I what shall we do ? He’s get- 
ting purple in the face.” 

“ I don’t know, oh, I don’t know what to do ! ” 
wailed Marjorie, wringing her hands. “ Run and 
call somebody quick. Good gracious, Kathleen ! 
what in the world are you doing? She’s kill- 
ing the baby. Oh, oh, oh ! ” And Marjorie’s 
voice rose to an agonized shriek. 

But Nora was not killing the small Percy ; she 
was only shaking him — shaking him with all her 


2I8 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


might — and even before Marjorie’s cry of alarm 
had attracted the attention of the crowd on the 
pier, a small object was seen to fly out of the 
baby’s mouth, and the choking and strangling 
instantly ceased. 

“ He is all right now,” said a reassuring voice, 
and a kind-faced lady bent tenderly over the still 
sobbing Percy. “ There, there, little man, there 
isn’t anything more to cry about. It isn’t pleasant 
to be shaken, I know, but it’s much better than 
choking to death.” 

“ The little girl showed great presence of mind,” 
remarked another bystander. “Does anybody 
know who she is ? ” 

“ I think she is that Crawford child,” replied 
the lady who had first spoken. “ And here comes 
Mr. Crawford himself,” she added, glancing at 
two approaching figures, who, with pale, anxious 
faces, were rapidly making their way towards the 
scene of action. 

“Oh, Mr. Crawford,” cried Marjorie, running 
to meet Kathleen’s father, “ Kathleen’s all right. 
She’s just saved our baby. Bobby gave him a 
lemon-drop, and it choked him, and I’m sure he 
would have died if it hadn’t been for Kathleen. 
She just shook him and shook him till the lemon- 
drop flew out of his mouth. Oh, Kathleen dear. 
I’m so grateful I ” And impulsive Marjorie threw 
her arms round her friend’s neck and hugged her. 


JVOI^A TO THE RESCUE 


219 


Mr. Crawford looked very much relieved. 

“ I didn’t know what had happened,” he said. 
“ Kathleen, my darling, you must come back to 
the hotel. It was wrong to run away by your- 
self ; you have frightened Sarah and me very 
much.” 

Nora clasped her hands, and cast an imploring 
glance at Kathleen’s father. 

” Please, please don’t make me go back to that 
awful room,” she implored. ‘‘ I’m so tired of be- 
ing ill ; I really can’t stand it any longer.” 

Mr. Crawford looked very much troubled. 

“ The doctor ” he began, but Reggie in- 

terrupted. 

“ Excuse me, sir,” he said, ” but I don’t think 
Kathleen is really ill. She says she’s all right, 
and if you could have seen her run ! I say, Kath- 
leen, how did you know what to do to stop that 
kid from choking? Did you ever see any one 
choke before?” 

“ Yes, once,” said Nora, who, in the excitement 
of the moment, had quite forgotten that she was 
still “playing a part.” “Jimmy Judson got a 
cherry pit stuck in his throat, and Mrs. Judson 
shook him till it came out.” 

“Jimmy? Mrs. Judson?” repeated Mr. Craw- 
ford in amazement. “ Kathleen, what in the 
world are you talking about? I never heard of 
any such people.” 


220 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


Then Nora remembered, and all the color died 
suddenly out of her face. 

“ I — I forgot,” she stammered ; ‘‘ I oughtn't to 
have talked about the Judsons. They're just 

some people I know, but- Oh, look, look I that 

lady and the little girl coming up the pier I It is, 
it really is! Oh, Mummy, Mummy!'' And to 
the utter amazement of her companions, Nora 
dashed away down the road, and in another mo- 
ment had flung herself into the arms of a little 
lady in black, who, having dropped a suit case, 
an umbrella and several other belongings, was 
holding her as if she never meant to let her go 
again. 

But that was not the only extraordinary thing 
that had happened, for as Nora dashed towards 
her mother, another little figure was dashing in 
the opposite direction, and at the very same mo- 
ment that Nora flung herself upon the little lady 
in black, two other small arms were clinging 
round Mr. Crawford's neck, and an eager, excited 
voice was crying : 

** Oh, Daddy, Daddy darling, I'm so glad to 
get here ! Just think of Nora's getting carried off 
to Bermuda instead of me! Mother said we 
should come on the next steamer, but we had a 
whole week to wait, and it was awful. Oh, 
Daddy, what makes you look so queer? Aren't 
you glad to see your own little Kathleen ? '' 







J.A' -•i'- .• 

HI' A- *..• ■: -. ' "^T '* 



/>! 


•I 





"Si-^ 


r : 1 


H<fri 


%3 


« # 




• • 
t 


"• » 


‘ >• 


* • 


»• .-A 


«» 




, t 


•4 . 1 


'• 


AjJfi 




■►T* 


% 


'W 1:* V ’■' w' > 
yw • r*"** ^ ^ ^ ' 


♦ -< 


.0 






* \ 








r >07* " 

r - w 

■ Af*j> 


i±i 


'i. 




< ■ 






»i./? 




t f Vr 




r1 , *: •’T'. ?...-' 

. * i - V* . 'iv-f ? 

•i^ .-^ . •. • 1- I ^*’ :_ . * V 


• ' > > 


^ ♦ 


''w 






I 


• ^ 


" 4 - 

w v'if**^K3r • . ^ 


--J 


1 ^* ■• 

^ *» yj\ : ,, C^J 


% *' 


* ^ 


W 


• > 



" w 

f - -> 





:•/.. '.. 

n 

i k' V -*'., •. 

^ V> L--'. ■ 

>‘£i.';- ■ 

.! 

n 

!► 




CHAPTER XV 

THE TWINS 

** T T^S the most wonderful thing that ever hap- 
I pened in this world,” declared Marjorie. 

“ It’s just like a thing in a book or a 
play,” affirmed Bobby. “I didn’t suppose any 
two girls could possibly look so exactly alike.” 

It was after luncheon, and the two Campbells 
and Reggie were on the hotel piazza, eagerly dis- 
cussing the events of the morning. They were 
not the only excited group who were discussing 
the same subject, for the extraordinary story had 
quickly spread among the hotel guests, and more 
than a dozen pairs of eyes were eagerly watching 
for a glimpse of the wonderful twins. 

“I was too excited to eat any lunch,” said 
Marjorie. “My hand shook so I kept spilling 
things, and a lump came in my throat every time 
I tried to swallow. It was all so sudden ; first our 
scare about Percy, and then the right Kathleen 
coming off the steamer. It was just like a scene 
in a play.” 


321 


222 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


“Have some fudge,” said Reggie, gallantly 
presenting a paper bag. 

Marjorie accepted the offering, and proceeded 
to nibble a succulent morsel. 

“That Nora must be an awful girl,” she re- 
marked, reflectively. “ How could anybody have 
kept up a thing like that for a whole week ? She 
must have planned it all out, so as to come here 
for a good time instead of poor Kathleen.” 

“ She didn’t do anything of the sort,” declared 
Reggie, indignantly. “ Mrs. Carew has been 
telling Mother all about it. She didn’t want to 
deceive people, and she’s had an awful time.” 

“What did she do it for, then?” demanded 
Marjorie. 

“ Because she had promised her mother not to 
let any one find out she wasn’t the right Kathleen. 
She was afraid Mr. Crawford would be angry, and 
it would get her mother into trouble. I think she 
was one of the pluckiest girls I ever heard of. It 
must have been frightful to have to stay in bed 
for five days, and have a trained nurse.” 

“ I say I ” exclaimed Bobby, with a sudden 
recollection ; “ that story she told us the other 
day on the beach — about the king and queen, and 
the twin babies, you know. She said she didn’t 
know the end of it yet. Why, it must have been 
all true, and she just changed the names to make 
it sound as if she was making it up. She must 


THE TWINS 


223 


be awfully clever. But I don’t believe Mr. Craw- 
ford is angry. He was smiling all through lunch, 
and he talked a lot to Nora’s mother.” 

“ That was because he was so relieved about 
Kathleen,” said Marjorie. “ You see, he was 
terribly worried, because he thought there was 
something the matter with her brain. Pm re- 
lieved, too, for I really am fond of Kathleen.” 

” I think I like the old Kathleen best,” observed 
Reggie. ” I say, isn’t her mother pretty ? I 
couldn’t help looking at her all lunch-time.” 

” She and Mr. Crawford have gone for a walk 
together,” reported Bobby. ‘T suppose they want 
to talk things over.” 

” I hope nobody is going to be punished,” said 
Reggie, a little anxiously. ” I don’t believe any 
one could scold Mrs. O’Neil ; she’s so pretty, and 
I really think Nora was a brick.” 

“ Here come the twins I ” cried Bobby, ex- 
citedly. ” Just look at them. Can you possibly 
tell which is which ? ” 

” I know Nora by her hat,” said Reggie. ” Let’s 
go and talk to them.” 

But there was no need of moving, for at the 
first sight of her friends the real Kathleen ran 
eagerly forward. Nora hung back a little shyly, 
but her twin — whose arm was round her waist — 
pulled her forward with a firm hand. 

” Isn’t it the funniest thing that ever hap- 


224 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


pened ? demanded Kathleen, kissing Marjorie 
effusively. “ Just think of your not knowing me, 
and thinking Nora had something dreadful the 
matter with her brain.’* 

“ I’m awfully glad we were mistaken,” declared 
Marjorie, giving her friend an impulsive hug. 
“ How did you ever manage to deceive us 
so, Kath — I mean Nora? You must be very 
clever.” 

It was very hard sometimes,” Nora admitted, 
modestly, “ but my father was a great actor, and 
I tried to think I was playing a part, just as he 
did. I’m very sorry I deceived you all, and made 
Mr. Crawford so unhappy, but I thought I had to 
do it.” 

“ Daddy isn’t unhappy now,” said Kathleen. 
“He said he was so thankful to find I was all 
right that he was ready to forgive everybody in 
the world. The one thing I can’t understand is 
how Nora could possibly have been afraid of 
Daddy.” 

“ I’m not a bit afraid of him any more,” said 
Nora, “ but you see, I haven’t known him as long 
as you have.” 

“Your voices are just as much alike as your 
faces,” remarked Bobby. “ If I shut my eyes I 
know I wouldn’t have any idea which of you was 
talking.” 

“ I think I would,” said Reggie. “ Have some 


THE TWINS 


225 


fudge, Nora ? Tm going to try to remember to 
call you Nora, but Kathleen seems so much more 
natural/^ 

“ Sit down and tell us all about it,” said Mar- 
jorie ; “ it’s so interesting, and we’ve hardly heard 
anything yet.” 

“ Well,” said Kathleen, I’m afraid I was pretty 
horrid at first. You see, I thought Nora had gone 
off to Bermuda on purpose, and it did seem rather 
mean. But after a while I began to realize it had 
all been a mistake, and then I was ashamed of 
having made such a fuss. I was dreadfully dis- 
appointed, though, and I’m afraid I made poor 
Mother very unhappy. She wanted to take me 
home, and explain everything to Mrs. Anderson, 
but I wouldn’t let her. You see, I was beginning 
to love her, and I wanted to stay with her if I 
couldn’t go to Daddy. Mother would have sent 
word to Daddy at once, but there isn’t any tele- 
graph to Bermuda, so there was nothing to do 
but wait for the next boat, which didn’t sail till 
day before yesterday. Mother promised to bring 
me to Daddy just as soon as she possibly could, 
and of course I wanted to go, but living in the 
studio was rather fun, and I kept loving Mother 
better every minute.” 

“ She’s very pretty,” observed Bobby, sympa- 
thetically. 

“ Pretty ! I should think she was ! She’s the 


226 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


loveliest person Fve ever seen, and I love her bet- 
ter than any one in the world except Daddy.” 

“ Did you get to know the Judsons, or any of 
my other friends ? ” asked Nora. 

Kathleen laughed. 

“ 1 got to know the Judsons very well,” she said. 
“Jimmy and May were in the studio when Mother 
came back from our house, and told me you had 
gone, so of course they found out all about every- 
thing. Mrs. Judson wanted Mother to write a 
vaudeville sketch about us. She said she was sure 
it would make a sensation. Jimmy talks awful 
slang, but I rather like him, and May is very 
sweet. There was another girl, too, who wanted 
me to help her write a composition, and wouldn^t 
believe me when I told her I couldn’t.” 

“ That must have been Lina Rosenbaum,” said 
Nora. “ She offered to give me a present if I 
would write her composition for her.” 

“ Well, what’s going to happen now you’re 
here, and Mr. Crawford knows everything?” in- 
quired Marjorie. 

“ I don’t know just whaf s going to happen,” 
said Kathleen, “ but I know one thing, and that is 
I’m never going to give up Mother again, now 
that I’ve found her, and of course I shall always 
stay with Daddy, so I suppose the only thing will be 
for Mother and Nora to come and live with us.” 

Nora looked a little doubtful. 


THE TWINS 


227 


** Fm afraid Mummy won’t be willing to do 
that,” she said. “ I don't think she would like to 
live in another person’s house unless she could 
work to pay for her board.” 

‘‘Well, she might be our housekeeper then,” 
suggested Kathleen. “ I’m sure she would make 
a much better one than Mrs. Anderson. Anyhow, 
I’m never going to let her go again, or you either, 
so it will have to be arranged in some way.” 

“ It does seem as if twins ought to live to- 
gether,” remarked Reggie. 

“ Of course they ought, and besides, I need 
Nora. Aunt Kitty is always saying I wouldn’t be 
half so spoiled and selfish if I had to share things 
with somebody else, and now that I’ve stayed 
with Mother, and found out how lovely it is to be 
sweet and unselfish like her, I don’t intend to be 
spoiled any longer.” 

Nora still looked doubtful, but at that moment 
Sarah was seen approaching in their direction. 

“ Here comes Sarah,” said Kathleen. “ Oh, 
wasn’t her face funny when she saw us both on 
the pier, and didn’t know which was which ? ” 

“ Not as funny as Miss Beck’s was,” said Nora, 
laughing. “ I believe she thought everybody had 
been deceiving her, even your father. She 
wouldn’t speak to me, even to say good-bye. 
Sarah’s beckoning to us. I guess we’d better 
go." 


228 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


Kathleen sprang to her feet. 

“ We’re going for a walk,” she said. ** I want 
to see everything there is in Bermuda now I’m 
here.” 

“You won’t have much time if you’re going back 
on the boat day after to-morrow,” said Marjorie. 

“ We’re not going back day after to-morrow,” 
said Kathleen, with decision. “ We’re going to 
stay three weeks. Daddy arranged in the first 
place to have me come for three weeks, and now 
I’m here Fm going to stay. I told Daddy so, and 
he laughed and pinched my cheek. That always 
means he’s going to do what I want him to. 
We’re coming, Sarah. Good-bye, Marjorie ; we’ll 
see you later.” And away hurried Kathleen, fol- 
lowed by her still somewhat bewildered twin. 

“ Kathleen hasn’t changed one bit,” remarked 
Marjorie, as the sisters disappeared around a corner 
of the piazza. “ She always managed to get her 
own way about everything. I’m glad she isn’t 
going right back to New York, though.” 

“ I suppose Nora and her mother will go,” said 
Reggie, regretfully. “ F m sorry, for I like her 
much better than the new one.” 

“ They won’t go if Kathleen decides they are 
to stay,” said Marjorie. And Marjorie was correct 
in her prediction. 

It was after five when the twins and Sarah re- 
turned from their walk. It had been a pleasant 


THE TWINS 


229 


afternoon, and Nora had enjoyed it thoroughly, 
notwithstanding her regret that her mother was 
not with them. 

“ I never realized before what a wonderful thing 
it is to be out-of-doors,” she remarked reflectively. 
“ Every one of those five days seemed like a year. 
It was pretty bad when I had the measles, but 
then Mummy was with me,” 

“ Of course that must have made a great 
difference,” said Kathleen, with unusual serious- 
ness. “I don’t think anybody could be very 
lonely or unhappy if they had Mother. Do you 
know, Nora, I think you are almost as unselfish 
as she is.” 

Nora’s eyes opened wide in surprise. 

” Oh, but I’m not I ” she protested. ” What 
ever made you think such a thing ? ” 

” Because you’re so sweet about letting me 
share Mother with you. After all, she was your 
mother first, you know, and if you had wanted to 
keep her to yourself, you need never have told me 
about her.” 

But I couldn’t help telling you,” said Nora. 
‘‘ I ought not to have gone into your house at all, 
but it was such a terrible temptation. You see, 
I’d been loving you for such a long time.” 

An odd, softened look came into Kathleen’s 
face, and her lip trembled. ” I’m glad you did,” 
she whispered, giving her sister’s arm an affec- 


230 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


donate squeeze. “ Fm afraid I never loved any 
one very much except Daddy, but I love Mother 
dearly, and Fm going to love you, too.^’ 

Mrs. O’Neil was watching for the children, and 
came down the piazza steps to meet them. One 
glance at her mother's face was sufficient to assure 
Nora that all was well. 

“ Did you and Daddy have a good, satisfactory 
talk. Mother?” inquired Kathleen, as they all 
three went into the hotel together. 

“ Yes, darling. Your daddy has been so good 
to me — so wonderfully generous and forgiving.” 

“ Of course he was all right,” said Kathleen. 
** I kept telling you all the time there wasn't any- 
thing to be worried about. And is it arranged 
about your staying here three weeks with Daddy 
and me ? ” 

Mrs. O'Neil smiled and shook her head. 

“ I am afraid not, dear,” she said ; “ Nora and I 
-must go back to New York by Wednesday's boat, 
but you will be so happy with your daddy that 
you won't miss us much, and when we all get 
home, we can see each other very often.” 

Kathleen's face clouded. 

” I shall miss you,” she declared ; I shall miss 
you dreadfully. Where's Daddy? I want to 
speak to him.” 

“ I saw him a few minutes ago,” said her 
mother. ** I think he has gone to his room.” 


THE TWINS 


231 


** Then Fll go and find him,’^ said Kathleen. 
“ My room is next to his, you know. You’re to 
stay with Nora.” And away flew Kathleen, look- 
ing very determined about something, and closely 
followed by the faithful Sarah. 

Oh, Mummy darling, it is good to have you 
all to myself for a little while,” cried Nora, when 
the door of the room in which she had spent so 
many dreary days closed behind them. “You 
can never know how terribly I have wanted you, 
and how dreadful it has been sometimes.” 

There was a catch in Nora’s voice, and her 
mother took her in her arms and kissed her. 

“ Come and sit here on the sofa and tell Mummy 
all about it,” she said tenderly, and with her head 
on her mother’s shoulder, Nora told her story. 
She told everything from the very beginning, and 
Mrs. O’Neil listened and sympathized as only she 
could have done. 

“ It was very hard,” finished Nora, “ especially 
after they thought I was ill. Mr. Crawford was 
so kind, and I hated to worry him, but I kept 
thinking about you, and I was so afraid of getting 
you in trouble.” 

“ My poor little girl,” murmured Mrs. O’Neil, 
kissing her ; “ I’m afraid I have been very much 
to blame. I should have known better how to 
keep my secret even from you, but it was so hard 
never to be able to speak of my Kathleen to any 


232 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


one, and as things have turned out, I am afraid I 
cannot be as sorry as I ought. If it were not for 
all you have suffered I should be only glad, for 
Mr. Crawford has been so very good to me. Just 
think, Nora, he says I may see Kathleen as often 
as I like, and you children need never be separated 
again. He reproached me for not having come 
to him long ago. He did not even know that I 
was alive. You see, we had never met ; all the 
arrangements were made through Mrs. Crawford 
and a mutual friend. Mr. Crawford is a very just 
man, and — oh, Nora darling, I am so happy and 
so grateful I You have no idea what the anxiety 
of the past ten days has been.’^ 

*‘I think I have a little,’’ said Nora, softly. “ It 
was pretty bad, but I would do it all over again 
just to see your eyes look the way they do now. 
Oh, there’s the telephone. Shall I answer it?” 

Mrs. O’Neil nodded, and Nora flew to the 
telephone. 

** It’s for you. Mummy,” she announced. “ Some- 
body wants to know if you would mind coming 
down to the office for a minute, to speak to the 
manager.” 

Mrs. O’Neil rose, looking very much surprised. 

“ I can’t imagine what he wants,” she said ; “ I 
am sure there must be some mistake.” 

She left the room, and Nora put away her hat 
and jacket, reflecting as she did so that it really 


THE TIVINS 


233 


was very pleasant to be free to wait upon one’s 
self. A maid was all right for certain occasions, 
no doubt, but ordinarily she really preferred the 
old simple ways of the studio. She was not left 
long in solitude, however, for she had just finished 
washing her hands and brushing her hair, when 
the door opened, and Kathleen came in, looking 
flushed and important. 

Where’s Mother ? ” she demanded, eagerly, 

** Gone to the office to speak to the manager. 
He telephoned that he wanted to see her, but she 
thinks it must be a mistake.” 

Kathleen gave a little skip, and clapped her 
hands. 

** It’s all right,” she assured Nora ; Daddy 
and I know about it.” 

“About what?” inquired Nora, laying down 
the hair-brush, and regarding her twin in aston- 
ishment. 

Kathleen smiled mysteriously. 

“ I guess Mother’ll tell you pretty soon,” she 
said. “ You look awfully well in that dress, Nora ; 
it fits you much better than it used to fit me.” 

Nora blushed. 

“ Do you think I ought to wear it ? ” she asked, 
timidly. “ I love your dresses, but, now that 
you’ve come, of course you ought to have them 
all back again.” 

“ I don’t want them,” said Kathleen, in a tone 


234 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


of decision. It’s all settled, so you needn’t say 
any more about it. Even Sarah says I’ve got 
twice as many clothes as I need, so you are to 
keep all you want, and you are to keep that 
watch, too ; Daddy says so.” 

“ Oh 1 ” gasped Nora, “ how wonderful ! But 
do you think Mummy will let me ? ” 

“ Of course she will. I guess my daddy can 
make a person a present if he wants to. He says 
you’ve been very plucky, and he is sure you’ll be 
an actress some day. He saw your father act 
once, and he was wonderful.” 

Nora flushed with pride. 

“ He was a great actor,” she said, “ and he was 
your father, too, Kathleen, don’t you know that?” 

‘‘Yes, I know, but I don’t want to talk about it. 
Daddy is my father, and I’m not going to let any 
other one ever take his place, even if he was the 
greatest actor, or the greatest anything else in the 
world. Daddy says I must be proud of your — 
our father, but I’m not going to be, at least not 
now, when I’ve just got my own daddy back. 
Here comes Mother. Oh, Mother dear, is it all 
settled ? ” 

Mrs. O’Neil closed the door, and stood regard- 
ing her two small daughters with shining eyes. 

“ Kathleen,” she said in a voice that tried to be 
stern, but somehow failed, “ what have you been 
telling Mr. Crawford about me ? ” 


THE TWINS 


235 


Kathleen laughed triumphantly. 

‘‘ I just told him how you wrote things for the 
newspapers, and asked him if there weren’t any 
newspapers printed in Bermuda. He thought for 
a minute, and then he jumped up and kissed me, 
and said, ‘Not a bad idea, little woman,’ and then 
he called up somebody in the office, and talked 
for a few minutes, and when he was through he 
laughed and kissed me again, and — why, that’s all.” 

Mrs. O’Neil sank helplessly into the rocking- 
chair. 

“ You and your daddy have managed things 
wonderfully,” she said, and though she was smil- 
ing, there were tears in her eyes. “ I fully ex- 
pected to take Nora back to New York on 
Wednesday’s boat, and now here I am engaged 
to stay here for the next three weeks, and write 
up the society events of Bermuda. The manager 
tells me that the reporter who has been here all 
winter left last week, and he is really in need of 
some one to take her place, but if you and Mr. 
Crawford hadn’t ” 

Mrs. O’Neil got no farther, for Nora’s arms 
were round her neck, and Kathleen was executing 
a war dance about the room. 

“It’s the loveliest thing that ever happened,” 
cried Nora, rapturously. “ Bermuda is such a 
beautiful place, and, oh, won’t we have good times 
here all together ? ” 


236 


NORA'^S TWIN SISTER 


** I knew Daddy would be able to manage it in 
some way,” said Kathleen, pausing in her war 
dance to hug her mother and sisten “ All I ever 
have to do is just to suggest something, and he 
does all the rest.” 


CHAPTER XVI 


KATHLEEN HAS HER WAY 
HE little Bermuda steamer was rapidly 



making her way towards New York. 


JL Already the New Jersey shore was in 
sight, and in another hour Sandy Hook would 
be reached. The voyage had been unusually 
smooth ; few of the passengers had suffered from 
seasickness, and almost every one was on deck, 
watching the approach to land. It was a lovely 
Spring morning and from their deck chairs the 
twins were endeavoring to recognize familiar 
landmarks. 

“Pm sure that must be Asbury Park,*' Nora 
declared. ‘‘Mummy and I spent a week there 
one summer, and that big building looks like the 
auditorium.” 

“ Fve never stayed at Asbury Park,” said Kath- 
leen, “ but Fve motored there from Monmouth, 
when I visited Sylvia Seymour. I like Bar Har- 
bor better than New Jersey, though, don’t you ? ” 

“ Fve never seen Bar Harbor,” laughed Nora. 
“ You keep forgetting that I haven’t traveled as 
you have.” 


237 


238 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


‘‘ I know I do, but it’ seems so queer you 
shouldn’t know all the places I know. We spent 
two summers at Bar Harbor before Daddy bought 
the camp at Big Moose. Are you glad we're go- 
ing home, Nora ?” 

Nora hesitated. 

“ I'm afraid not quite as glad as I ought to be," 
she admitted. “ I love home, of course, and it 
will be nice to see the Judsons, and all my other 
friends, but it was so beautiful in Bermuda, and 
we did have such good times." 

‘‘ We certainly did," agreed Kathleen ; ** I don't 
think I ever enjoyed myself anywhere quite so 
much. But we couldn’t have stayed much longer, 
because it was getting so hot, and the hotels were 
going to close. You’ll like Big Moose just as 
much ; see if you don't.” 

should love to see the mountains,” said 
Nora, thoughtfully, but perhaps Mummy won’t 
let me go away again this summer. You see, this 
trip has cost a good deal, even though Mummy 
did pay most of her expenses by writing for the 
papers." 

Kathleen smiled a superior smile. 

“ If you think for one minute,” she said de- 
cidedly, ‘‘ that you and Mother are not coming to 
spend the summer with us at Big Moose, you are 
very much mistaken. Because if you don’t come 
with us I sha'n't go either." 


KATHLEEN HAS HER WAY 


239 


Nora looked very much surprised, but three 
weeks' acquaintance with her twin sister had con- 
vinced her of the fact that Kathleen had a way of 
carrying her points, and surmounting seemingly 
unsurmountable difficulties, that in any one else 
would have seemed quite beyond belief. She was 
very fond of Kathleen, and had a great admira- 
tion for her accomplishments, but there were mo- 
ments when her faith in the power of her sister’s 
achievements was not unmixed with awe. 

“ I am afraid Mummy won’t come, even if she 
should let me go for a visit,” she said, doubtfully. 
” She told me last night that she wouldn’t be able 
to take another vacation for ever so long.” 

“ Well, if she stays in New York all summer I 
shall stay, too,” said Kathleen, calmly. “ I didn’t 
have any mother for years and years, and now 
that I’ve got one I don’t intend to give her up 
again. I’m not going to leave you either, Nora ; 
I shouldn’t think you’d want me to.” 

“ I don’t,” said Nora ; ** I should miss you 
dreadfully, but then there’s your daddy ; you 
wouldn’t like to keep him in the city all summer, 
would you ? ” 

Kathleen looked a little troubled. 

“ I don’t believe he would mind very much,” 
she said, “ especially if Mother were there. Daddy 
and Mother are great friends, you know. I asked 
him yesterday if he didn’t think Mother was the 


240 


NORA'^S TWIN SISTER 


prettiest lady he had ever seen, and he said, I do 
indeed/ I wish you could have seen the way he 
looked when he said it. I heard him talking to 
Aunt Kitty the day before we left Bermuda, and 
he said he could never forgive himself when he 
thought of all Mother had suffered, because of 
that old paper, and not being allowed to see me. 
Aunty Kitty loves Mother, too. She called her a 
dear, brave little woman, and Daddy looked so 
pleased.*’ 

“ I wish Father hadn’t died,” said Nora, with a 
sigh. “I never realized how nice fathers were 
till I knew Mr. Crawford.’' 

Why do you keep calling Daddy Mr. Craw- 
ford ? ” said Kathleen, impatiently. “ It sounds so 
silly and formal. I don’t see why you can’t call 
him Daddy, just as I do. He’s very fond of you.” 

“ I don’t see how he can be fond of me,” said 
Nora, blushing, “ when he thinks of all the trouble 
I gave him that first week. I didn’t suppose he 
would ever forgive me for pretending to be you.” 

“ Well, he’s very fond of you, anyhow,” main- 
tained Kathleen, and he’s perfectly crazy about 
Mother. Do you think she likes him ? ” 

“ Oh, I’m sure she does. She’s so grateful to 
him, you know.” 

‘‘ I don’t think being grateful and being fond of 
a person are quite the same thing,” said Kath- 
leen, doubtfully. “ They were talking for a long 


KATHLEEN HAS HER WAY 241 

time in the moonlight last night. I heard their 
voices after I was in bed. Daddy can always 
make people do what he wants them to.’^ 

“I don’t believe anybody in the world could 
persuade Mummy to do a thing she thought was 
wrong,” said Nora, with conviction. 

“ My daddy wouldn’t ask her to do anything 
wrong,” returned Kathleen, indignantly. “ How 
could it be wrong for you and Mother to spend 
the summer with us at Big Moose ? ” 

Nora was puzzled. 

“ I don’t suppose it would be exactly wrong,” 
she said, “but Mummy might think it was. You 
see she is very proud, and she just hates to accept 
favors from people who aren’t relations.” 

“ But Daddy is a relation,” objected Kathleen, 
“at least I should think he might be. Being 
adopted makes things rather mixed up, doesn’t it ? 
Well, I never knew Daddy to fail when he’d once 
made up his mind to a thing, and he’s promised 
me I shall never be separated from Mother again. 
Oh, see how near the shore looks. I’m going to 
ask Uncle Stephen to let me look through his 
glasses.” 

Kathleen departed, in quest of Mr. Carew and 
his opera-glass, but Nora did not move. She sat 
gazing out at the dark blue sea, and there was a 
troubled expression in her eyes. It was all very 
pleasant for Kathleen to be so sure about things. 


242 


NORA^S TWIN SISTER 


Kathleen had only known Mummy a month, but 
she had known her for twelve years, and she did 
not feel at all certain that things would be arranged 
as easily and comfortably as her twin seemed to 
think. The past three weeks had been very de- 
lightful. Somehow the prospect of a return to 
life in the studio did not strike her as quite so 
alluring as it had done in those first days in Ber- 
muda. 

“ I shall have to study very hard,” she told her- 
self ; “ Fve missed nearly a whole month of school. 
It will be fun to see the girls again, and I shall go 
to see Kathleen sometimes on Saturdays and Sun- 
days, but it won’t be the same thing as living in 
the house with her, and doing everything to- 
gether.” And Nora heaved a deep sigh, for she 
had grown to love her twin sister very dearly. 

“ Hello, Nora! ” 

At the sound of the familiar voice, Nora turned 
with a start, to find Reggie Starr standing by her 
chair. The Campbells and their aunt and uncle 
had left Bermuda a week earlier, but Mrs. Starr 
had not been well, and so Reggie and his parents 
had remained longer than had originally been in- 
tended, and were now on their way back to New 
York. 

What are you looking so solemn about ? ” 
Reggie inquired, seating himself in the deck-chair 
Kathleen had just vacated. 


KATHLEEN HAS HER WAY 243 

Nora laughed and blushed. 

“Was I looking solemn?” she said. “I didn’t 
know it. I was only thinking what a pity it was 
that nice things have to come to an end.” 

“ It has been nice, hasn’t it ? ” said Reggie, re- 
flectively. “ I shall have to work hard, though, 
to make up for all the weeks I’ve lost. Just think. 
I’ve missed three Saturdays, and our school plays 
every Saturday afternoon. I wouldn’t mind so 
much about just missing school. Don’t you 
hate it?” 

“ Oh, no, I rather like school, but this has been 
such a wonderful vacation, I’m afraid it's going to 
be hard to settle down right away. I shall miss 
Kathleen terribly, too. I suppose twins are always 
just a little fonder of each other than ordinary 
sisters.” 

“ Won’t you live with Kathleen ? ” inquired 
Reggie, in surprise. 

“ Kathleen thinks it can be arranged, but I’m 
quite sure it can’t. You see, she doesn’t know 
Mummy as well as I do. Mummy is very proud. 
She hates accepting favors from people, and if we 
went to live at the Crawfords it would be a very 
great favor, of course, for Mr. Crawford would 
never let us pay board.” 

“ But he’s so rich, and he’s got such a big 
house,” objected Reggie. “ I shouldn’t think it 
would make any difference if two more people 


244 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


lived there. Fve never been inside, but Tve 
passed it often.” 

‘‘The size doesn^t make any difference,” said 
Nora. “Mummy wouldn’t live in a king’s palace 
unless she could do something to pay for her 
board. O dear I I almost wish Mr. Crawford 
were poor. Then perhaps we could all live to- 
gether, and Mummy could pay our share of the 
expenses.” 

Reggie reflected for a moment in silence ; then 
he said slowly : 

“ Mother seems to think there’s a way, and so 
does Father. They were talking about it this 
morning.” 

“ What did they say ? ” demanded Nora, 
eagerly. 

“ Why, your mother and Mr. Crawford were 
walking up and down, and when they passed our 
chairs Mother said, ‘ How pretty she looks this 
morning,’ and Father laughed, and said, ‘ Lucky 
little woman ; I fancy her working days are over.’ 
Then Mother said, ‘ Well, I’m sure she deserves a 
little happiness, and I don’t believe the Carews 
will object’ Then I think they must have 
noticed that I was listening, for Father said some- 
thing about the Jersey Coast, and Mother won- 
dered what time we should get in.” 

Nora was deeply interested, and a little uncom- 
fortable as well. 


KATHLEEN HAS HER WAY 245 

“I can’t think what they meant,” she said. 
** Of course Mummy is awfully happy about being 
able to see Kathleen, but that hasn’t anything to 
do with her working days being over. I’m sure 
she would never give up working unless she were 
ill. Oh,” with sudden anxiety, “ you don’t think 
they meant Mummy was ill, do you?” 

Reggie shook his head decidedly. 

Not a bit of it,” he said. ‘^Father wouldn’t 
have laughed and called her a lucky little woman 
in that case. I’d go and ask what they did mean, 
only I don’t believe they’d tell me.” 

Nora rose. She was looking unusually serious. 

I think I’ll go and see if I can help Mummy,” 
she said. “ She went in to pack ever so long ago.” 

‘‘Well, don’t stay long,” warned Reggie. 
“ Father says we’re nearly at Sandy Hook, and 
it’ll be fun going up the bay.” 

Mrs. O’Neil was in her cabin, but she was not 
packing. She was sitting on the sofa, gazing 
straight before her, with hands folded idly in her 
lap. It was such an unusual position for the busy 
little mother, that Nora was conscious of a sudden 
pang of fear. Could Mummy really be ill, after 
all? 

“ Is there anything the matter. Mummy dear ? ” 
she inquired anxiously, hurrying to her mother’s 
side. 

Mrs. O’Neil looked up with a start 


246 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


“ Why, no, darling,” she said, cheerfully ; ** I 
was resting for a few minutes, that is all. The 
packing is finished, and I had nothing else to do. 
Where’s Kathleen ? ” 

“She went to look through Mr. Caiew’s spy- 
glass. I came to see if I could help you pack. 
Oh, Mummy, there is something the matter. 
YouVe been crying.” 

“Nonsense, pussy, what should I cry about? 
That little imagination of yours is altogether too 
vivid.” 

But though she tried to laugh, Mrs. O’Neil’s 
voice trembled a little, and Nora was not satisfied. 
With a sudden loving impulse, she dropped on 
her knees and laid her head in her mother’s lap. 

“ It’s sort of nice to be going home, isn’t it, 
Mummy ? ” she said softly. “ It’s all right for you 
and me, because we’ve got each other, the same 
as we always had, but it’s just a little hard for 
Kathleen and Mr. Crawford.” 

“ No, no, darling, it isn’t hard for Kathleen,” 
said Mrs. O’Neil, sadly. “ Kathleen has every- 
thing in the world to make her happy.” 

“ She hasn’t got you,” said Nora. “ Mr. Craw- 
ford’s very nice, of course, and Kathleen loves 
him dearly, but a gentleman isn’t nearly as much 
company in a house as a lady. Besides, he’s 
away at his office all day, and, oh. Mummy, if 
you could see that housekeeper I She’s so stiff 


KATHLEEN HAS HER WAY 247 

and prim ; I don’t believe she ever saw a joke in 
her life. Kathleen wants us all to live together ; 
she thinks her daddy can arrange it, but I’m quite 
sure he can’t.” 

Before Mrs. O’Neil could answer, the door was 
suddenly burst open, and Kathleen, flushed and 
panting, appeared on the threshold. 

“ Mother,” she began, without a moment’s hesi- 
tation, “ why have you made my daddy un- 
happy ? ” 

“ Oh, hush, darling, don’t talk so loud. Please 
close the door.” Mrs. O’Neil’s cheeks were 
crimson, and her lips twitched nervously, but she 
was evidently making a great effort to appear as 
usual. 

Kathleen closed the door, and advanced into 
the middle of the cabin, where she stood regard- 
ing her mother and sister with flashing eyes. But 
before she could speak again, Nora had scrambled 
to her feet, and was beginning an indignant pro- 
test. 

‘^You mustn’t speak like that to Mummy,” she 
said, sternly. Mummy never made any one un- 
happy in her life.” 

'‘She has made my daddy very unhappy,” 
maintained Kathleen. " I could see the unhappi- 
ness in his eyes.” 

“ Sit down, Kathleen,” said her mother gently. 
" You mustn’t quarrel, children. Now, Kathleen, 


248 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


tell me quietly, what has your — what has Mr. 
Crawford been saying to you ? ” 

“ He didn’t say much, but I could see how un- 
happy he was. I asked him to arrange things so 
you and Nora could live with us, and he said he 
had tried very hard, but he was afraid it wasn’t to 
be. And then he gave such a long sigh, and the 
dreadfully unhappy look came into his eyes. I 
never saw my daddy like that before.” And Kath- 
leen’s voice broke in a sob. 

“ I won’t have my daddy made unhappy ; I 
won’t I I won’t ! ” she cried, passionately. He’s 
the best man in the world, and people always do 
what he wants them to. You’ve got to tell him 
you’re sorry. Mother — oh, please, please tell him 
you’re sorry.” 

But Mrs. O’Neil did not answer. She had put 
both hands before her face, and was crying softly. 
Nora’s arms were round her in a moment. 

Now you’ve gone and made Mummy un- 
happy,” she cried, reproachfully. “ Never mind 
what she says. Mummy darling ; we’ve got each 
other, and you sha’n’t be made to go and live any- 
where you don’t want to. Oh, Kathleen, please 
go and ask your daddy to come here, and tell 
Mummy she needn’t do anything she doesn’t want 
to.” 

‘‘No, no,” gasped Mrs. O’Neil, “she mustn’t ” 

But Kathleen had already departed. 


KATHLEEN HAS HER WAY 249 

In less than five minutes she was back again 
holding Mr. Crawford's hand, and fairly dragging 
him along with her. Mrs. O'Neil's face was still 
hidden in her hands, and Nora was bending over 
her. 

“ Here's Daddy, Mother," Kathleen announced 
breathlessly. “ He's come to tell you not to cry 
any more. He says you are free to do just as 
you like, didn't you. Daddy ? " 

Then Mr. Crawford came forward, and laid his 
hand gently on Mrs. O'Neil's shoulder. 

“ Is it so very hard, Eleanor, my dear ? ” he 
said, and his voice was not quite steady. 

Mrs. O'Neil gave a violent start, and lifted her 
face from her hands. Both twins uttered a simul- 
taneous exclamation of astonishment, for their 
mother was not crying, but smiling, and there was 
a look in her eyes which even Nora had never 
seen in them before. 

“ It isn't hard at all, Duncan," she answered, 
holding out her hand to Mr. Crawford. ‘‘The 
only trouble is I'm — I'm rather afraid it’s too 
easy." 

“ Why," gasped Kathleen in amazement, “ you 
aren’t either of you unhappy. Whatever made 
you cry so. Mother ? " 

Mrs. O’Neil laughed and blushed, and Nora 
felt sure her mother had never looked quite so 
pretty before. 


250 


NORA'S TWIN SISTER 


“ I think it was because I am so happy,” she 
said. “ Did you never hear of people crying for 
joy?” And then she opened her arms, and 
gathered both twins into them. 

It was an hour later, and the little steamer was 
slowly making her way into her pier. Most of 
the passengers were on deck, waiting for the 
gangplank to be lowered, when Reggie Starr, 
having separated himself from his father and 
mother, came hurriedly pushing his way through 
the crowd, in search of his friends. 

“ Here we are, Reggie,” called a familiar voice, 
and Nora, radiant of face, sparkling of eye, made 
frantic gestures to indicate her whereabouts. 

“ Fve only got a minute,” panted Reggie. 
** Mother’ll have a fit if she doesn’t see me when 
they put out the plank, but I just had to come and 
tell you Fve found out what they meant.” 

“So have I,” said Nora. “ Oh, Reggie, it’s the 
most beautiful thing that ever happened. It’s all 
settled. Mummy and Mr. Crawford are going to 
get married, and Kathleen’s daddy will be my 
daddy, too 1 ” 


THE END 


Only Dollie 


By Nina Rhoades Illustrated by Bertha Davidson 
Square lamo Cloth ;^i.2 5 net 

T his is a brightly written story of a girl of 
twelve, who, when the mystery of her birth 
is solved, like Cinderella, passes from drudgery to 
better circumstances. There is nothing strained 
or unnatural at any point. All descriptions or 
portrayals of character are life-like, and the 
book has an indescribable appealing quality 
which wins sympathy and secures success. 

“It is delightful reading at all times .” — Cedar 
Rapids (/a.) Republican. 

“ It is well written, the story runs smoothly, the idea 
is good, and it is handled with ability.” — Chicago 
Journal, 

The Little Girl Next Door 

By Nina Rhoades. Large i2mo 
by Bertha Davidson ^1.25 net 

A DELIGHTFUL story of true and genuine friendship between an 
impulsive little girl in a fine New York home and a little blind girl 
in an apartment next door. The little girl’s determination to cultivate 
the acquaintance, begun out of the window during a rainy day, triumphs 
over the barriers of caste, and the little blind girl proves to be in every 
way a worthy companion. Later a mystery of birth is cleared up, and the 
little blind girl proves to be of gentle birth as well as of gentle manners. 

Winifred’s Neighbors 

By Nina Rhoades Illustrated 
by Bertha G. Davidson Large 
i2mo Cloth ^1.25 net 

L ittle Winifred’s efforts to find some 
children of whom she reads in a book 
lead to the acquaintance of a neighbor 
of the same name, and this acquaintance 
proves of the greatest importance to Winifred’s 
own family. Through it all she is just such a 
little girl as other girls ought to know, and 
the story will hold the interest of all ages. 




Cloth Illustrated 


For sale by all booksellers^ or sent postpaid on receipt 
of price by the publisher s^ 

LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON 



The Children on the Top Floor 


By Nina Rhoades Large 12 mo 
Cloth Illustrated by Bertha 
Davidson $1.25 net 

I N this book little Winifred Hamilton, the 
child heroine of “Winifred’s Neighbors,” 
reappears, living in the second of the four 
stories of a New York apartment house. On 
the top floor are two very interesting children, 
Betty, a little older than Winifred, who is now 
ten, and Jack, a brave little cripple, who is a 
year younger. In the end comes a glad re- 
union, and also other good fortune for crippled 
Jack, and Winifred’s kind little heart has once 
more indirectly caused great happiness to others. 



How Barbara Kept Her Promise 


By Nina Rhoades Large 1 2mo Cloth Illustrated 
by Bertha Davidson $1.25 net 

T WO orphan sisters, Barbara, aged twelve, and little Hazel, who is 
“only eight,” are sent from their early home in London to their 
mother’s family in New York. Faithful Barbara has promised her father 
that she will take care of pretty, petted, mischievous Hazel, and how she 
tries to do this, even in the face of great difficulties, forms the story which 
has the happy ending which Miss Rhoades wisely gives to all her stories. 


Little Miss Rosamond 


LITTLE, , 

^ |J1ISS|RP^AM0ND 



By Nina Rhoades Illus- 
trated by Bertha G. Davidson 
Large i2mo $1.25 net 

R osamond lives in Richmond, Va., 
with her big brother, who cannot 
give her all the comfort that she needs in 
the trying hot weather, and she goes to the 
seaside cottage of an uncle whose home 
is in New York. Here she meets Gladys 
and Joy, so well known in a previous 
book, “The Little Girl Next Door,” and 
after some complications are straightened 
out, bringing Rosamond’s honesty and 


kindness of heart into prominence, all are made very happy. 


For sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt 
of price by the publishers 

LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON 



** Brick House Books” 

By NINA RHOADES 

doth f2tno lUustrAtsd $1*25 cAch 

Priscilla of the 

Doll Shop 

'^HE Brick House Books,” as they are 
called from their well-known cover de- 
signs, are eagerly sought by children all over 
the country. There are three good stories in 
this book, instead of one, and it is hard to 
say which little girls, and boys, too, for that 
matter, will like the best. 

Brave Little Peggy 

P>EGGY comes from California to New Jersey to live with a brother and 
* sister whom she has not known since very early childhood. She is so 
democratic in her social ideas that many amusing scenes occur, and it is 
hard for her to understand many things that she must learn. But her good 
heart carries her through, and her conscientiousness and moral courage 
win affection and happiness. 

The Other Sylvia 

fr* IGHT-year-old Sylvia learns that girls who 
are “ Kings’ Daughters ” pledge themselves 
to some kind act or service, and that one little 
girl named Mary has taken it upon herself to be 
helpful to all the Marys of her acquaintance. 
This is such an interesting way of doing good that 
she adopts it in spite of her unusual name, and 
really finds not only “ the other Sylvia,” but great 
happiness. 




Par sale by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of 
price by the publisbers 

LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., BOSTON 


DOROTHY BROWN 

By NINA RHOADES 

illustrated by Elizabeth Withington Large 12mo 
Cloth $1.50 net 

T his is considerably longer than the other 
books by this favorite writer, and with a 
more elaborate plot, but it has the same win- 
some quality throughout. It introduces the 
heroine in New York as a little girl of eight, 
but soon passes over six years and finds her at 
a select family boarding school in Connecticut. 
An important part of the story also takes place 
at the Profile House in the White Mountains. 
The charm of school-girl friendship is finely 
brought out, and the kindness of heart, good 
sense and good taste which find constant ex- 
pression in the books by Miss Rhoades do not 
lack for characters to show these best of 
qualities by their lives. Other less admirable 
persons of course appear to furnish the alluring mystery, which is not 
all cleared up until the very last. 

“There will be no better book than this to put into the hands of a girl in 
her teens and none that will be better appreciated by her .” — Kennebec Journal 

MARION’S VACATION 

By NINA RHOADES 
Illustrated by Bertha Q. Davidson 
"^HIS book is for the older girls, Marion 
being thirteen. She has for ten years 
enjoyed a luxurious home in New York with 
the kind lady who feels that the time has now 
come for this aristocratic though lovable little 
miss to know her own nearest kindred, who 
are humble but most excellent farming people 
in a pretty Vermont village. Thither Marion 
is sent for a summer, which proves to be a 
most important one to her in all its lessons. 

“ More wholesome reading for half grown girls 
It would be hard to find; some of the same lessons 
that proved so helpful in that classic of the last 
neration ‘An Old Fashioned Girl* are brought 
me to the youthful readers of this sweet and 
sensible story .** — Milwaukee Free Press, 


For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of 
price by the publishers 

LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., Boston 


12mo $1.25 nef 




New Editions of Two Favorite Books 


THE LANCE OF KANANA 

A STORY OF ARABIA 

By HARRY W. FRENCH (“Abd 

Two-color illustrations by Garrett 

ANANA, a Bedouin youth, though excelling 
in athletic prowess, is branded, even by his 
father, as a coward because he prefers the 
humble lot of a shepherd to the warrior’s career 
that he, the son of a sheik known as the “Terror 
of the Desert,” was expected to follow. “Only 
for Allah and Arabia will I lift a lance and take 
a life,” he maintained. Opportunity to prove 
his worth soon comes, and the supposed coward, 
understood too late, becomes in memory a 
national hero. 

“The stirring' story of the loyalty and self-sacrifice of 
a Bedouin boy is well worth the attractive new edition in 
which it now presents its rare picture of fervid patri- 
otism .” — Continent t Chicago. 

THE ADVENTURES 
OF MILTIADES PETERKIN PAUL 
By JOHN BROWNJOHN 

Frontispiece by John Goss Illustrated by **Boz” 

Quarto Net, $1.00 

H ere is a child classic reissued in a finer 
and handsomer form, in response to the 
persistent demand of those who know the 
mirth-provoking quality of the exploits of 
the ingenious small boy named Miltiades 
Peterkin Paul and spoken of as “a great 
traveler, although he was small.” Whoever 
has once enjoyed the story of the restless 
little lad who imitated Don Quixote, and did 
many other things, is permanently charmed 
by it. 

“ This youthful Don Quixote, with his travels and 
exploits, drives ‘dull care* away from the elders 
and delights the juniors.**— Watchman^ N. T, 

Por sale by all booksellers or sen t postpaid on receipt 

of price by the publishers 

Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co, Boston 



el Ardavan”) 
Net, $1.00 



TOP-OF-THE-WORLD STORIES 

Translated from the Scandinayian Languages 

By EMIUE POULSSON and LAURA POULSSON 

Illustrated in two colors by Florence Liley Young 
Price, Net, $1.25 

'^HESE stories of magic and adven- 
ture come from the countries at 
the “top of the world,” and will 
transport thither in fancy the children 
who read this unusual book. They 
tell of Lapps and reindeer (even a 
golden-homed reindeer ! ) , of prince 
and herd-boy, of knights and wolves 
and trolls, of a boy who could be 
hungry and merry at the same time — 
of all these and more besides ! Miss Poulsson’s numerous 
and long visits to Norway, her father’s land, and the fact that 
§he is an experienced writer for children are doubtless the 
Teasons why her translations are sympathetic and skilful, and 
yet entirely adapted to give wholesome pleasure to the young 
public that she knows so well. 

“In these stories are the elements of wonder and magic and adventure 
that furnish the thrill so much appreciated by boys and girls ten or twelve 
years of agCo An aristocratic book — one that every young person will be 
perpetually proud of.” — LookotU^ Cincinnaii^ O. 

“In this book the children are transported to the land they love best, 
the land of magic, of the fairies and all kinds of wonderful happenings. 
It is one of the best fairy story books ever published.” — Argus- Leader^ 
Sioux Fallsy S. D. 

For sale by ali booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt 
of price by the publishers 

Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. 



Boston 























• .1 
' ‘ ,• 

f ▼ • i . 


, 


• i 

V 







} 

I 

1 

} 

\ 


I 


I 

I 


t 


\ 


I 


> 




» 





I 





> 





/ 


1 


4 





